Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez acknowledged difficulties adapting to his new riding style during practice at the 2024 Thai Grand Prix in Buriram. The 33-year-old, a top contender for the championship, is currently trailing behind after the opening day as he works to refine his technique on the 2024-spec Ducati.
Although he secured second place in the hour-long practice session, Marquez was more than four tenths of a second slower than the fastest rider, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi. He admitted that his riding is not yet instinctive on the updated bike, which he started the season on to minimize strain on his right shoulder, still recovering from an injury sustained last October in Indonesia.
Adjusting Riding Style to Manage Physical Strain
Marquez said he needs to continue improving his riding style, emphasizing that he is not yet able to ride “in an automatic way” as he aims to find a better flow with his new setup. He also noted the strong performance of Bezzecchi and Aprilia at Buriram, who seem to have adapted well to the different tire casing used and the circuit’s demands.
“For some reason, they are able to make the different [tyre] casing we have here and also Mandalika work,”
Marquez commented, highlighting the competitive advantage that Aprilia appears to have at these events.
Marquez’s Close Call with MotoGP Qualifying
Marquez experienced a tense moment in the afternoon session, initially missing out on a direct qualification for Q2 as he was outside the top 10 cutoff. The threat of rain added to the pressure, but he ultimately secured a spot in the top 10, narrowly avoiding a potentially more difficult qualifying route.
The Ducati team narrowly avoided a double Q1 appearance after teammate Pecco Bagnaia struggled to 15th place, underscoring the challenges the team is currently facing.
“Yeah, was a tricky session, especially in the end, because in one moment I was out of Q2 because of the fact I started the Practice with the medium [rear tyre]; we took a bit of a risk there,”
Marquez explained.
“But then, when I saw I was already in P5, I was quiet. And then we were able to do the last time attack in a good way.”
He also shared the timing difficulties with tire strategy that affected his qualification runs.
“The team sent me a message [to pit for soft tyres], but too late because I was already in the braking point of Turn 12 and I saw that I was out of the top 10. Then we stopped and we switched as soon as possible. We were lucky.”
Marquez noted fortunate weather conditions as well, saying,
“We were lucky that there were only some drops and not like in Moto2, where it was heavier rain.”
Implications for the Season Ahead
While Marquez remains a front-runner for the championship, his current position behind Bezzecchi at Buriram highlights the ongoing adaptation process to his new Ducati and riding method. The challenges with tire management and physical limitations due to his shoulder injury suggest that there is still work to be done to regain his usual edge.
As the season progresses, Marquez’s ability to refine his riding style and optimize his bike setup will be critical in closing the gap to rivals like Bezzecchi and Aprilia. The Thai Grand Prix serves as an early test of these adjustments, signaling a potentially competitive and closely fought championship battle ahead.
