Marc Marquez, the reigning MotoGP champion, returned to the Sepang circuit for the first time in a year following his absence from last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix due to injury. This week’s official test marked his first ride on a MotoGP bike in four months, where he showed promising speed by topping the timesheets on the opening day.
Strong Performance but Trailing His Brother’s Pace
Over the course of the three-day test, Marquez finished fourth overall, just 0.387 seconds behind the fastest rider, his younger brother Alex Marquez, who is the current title runner-up. While direct comparisons during testing sessions can be misleading due to differences in tyre choice and fuel loads, Thursday featured a Sprint race simulation that offered clearer performance insights.
Sprint Simulation Reveals Performance Gaps
In the ten-lap Sprint race run, Marquez finished third, trailing Alex and teammate Francesco Bagnaia, known by his racing number GP26. When adding up lap times, Alex completed the distance 1.385 seconds faster than Bagnaia and 2.613 seconds ahead of Marc. Despite the time gap, Marquez commented on his simulation with some optimism, saying,
“It was not bad – but three seconds slower than Alex, so…!”
He also noted,
“It was a good Sprint race simulation and, as we already predicted, it was not extremely fast. But we finished in a good way. I was riding in a good way.”
Marquez Confident Despite Challenges
Marquez described the day as productive, stating,
“So we can say it was a busy day, but we did all the things that was in the plan.”
After testing the newest Ducati updates, he settled on the setup that felt best for the Sprint simulation, though he acknowledges the need for further understanding, particularly in aerodynamics, ahead of the Thai Grand Prix.
He explained,
“The ones I felt better with during the three days, are the ones that I did the Sprint with. But still I ned to understand more in the Thailand, especially on the aerodynamic side.”
Regarding upcoming tests, he added,
“Here was the first ‘filter’, then in the Thai test we have only two days and we will have the things that we have some doubts but perform in a good way.”
Adaptations in Bike Performance and Aerodynamics
Marquez notably remains the sole rider consistently performing on last year’s GP25 machine, while many expect Ducati to shift development back toward the more manageable GP24 model for their last bike in the 1000cc era. Marquez commented on the latest GP26’s characteristics by saying,
“I feel very similar, honestly speaking. We improved in some areas but… It’s true that the grip we have at this track is unreal, so we need to understand a bit more during the races.”
He emphasized positive progress, stating,
“For me, the most important thing was that on the first day I was feeling good.”
With engine designs frozen from early 2025, deciding on the fairing design for the season opener is now critical for Marquez and other Ducati riders.
He discussed aerodynamic changes’ impact:
“The fact is that when you put a new aero package, then you need to change a bit the bike balance.”
Recalling a crash during testing, Marquez said,
“During the morning, I tried a different aero package and I crashed in Turn 1 because the bike balance changed a lot.”
He also reflected on adapting to equipment shifts:
“When you know something, and you are competitive and fast, then it is difficult to adapt to another part. But you need to be open-minded and always try other things.”
Looking Ahead to the Final Pre-Season Test in Buriram
The next and final pre-season test before the 2025 MotoGP season takes place on February 21-22 at the Buriram circuit in Thailand. This event will be crucial for Marquez and his Ducati teammates as they finalize setups and aerodynamic packages ahead of the opening rounds.
Marc Marquez’s measured yet hopeful return, combined with strong performances from his brother Alex and teammate Francesco Bagnaia, signals a highly competitive season. The ongoing refinements in bike handling and aerodynamics will likely determine the title fight’s early dynamics as the grid heads toward Thailand.
