Six-time world champion Marquez will trip a Gresini-run Ducati from 2023 this yr, having left Honda after 11 years with the Japanese producer.
Marquez was one of many largest points of interest throughout the first pre-season check at Sepang, the place he completed with the sixth quickest time of the three days of working.
The Spaniard was hindered by some technical points that price him monitor time, and he admitted he was nonetheless using the Ducati the identical approach he rode his Honda, claiming he was not as fast as Martin or Ducati’s reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia.
Final yr’s runner-up Martin reckons, nonetheless, that Marquez could possibly be within the battle to win the season opener.
Requested if Marquez was quicker or slower than anticipated throughout the check, Martin mentioned: “He is the place I anticipated, so he will probably be actually shut and prepared possibly for the victory in Qatar.”
Pramac rider Martin misplaced out to Bagnaia for the 2023 title after an intense battle in the direction of the tip of the season by which the Spaniard stayed in competition till the ultimate spherical.
Martin appeared to maintain his momentum going because the Sepang check concluded, ending second quickest total, simply 0.172s behind Bagnaia.
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Staff.
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
Whereas Martin mentioned he was centered on his personal efficiency throughout the three days of working, he prompt the expertise from final yr has left him higher ready for this season
“I really feel fairly robust,” he mentioned. “I really feel like I’ve expertise now. I really feel like I’m extra exact with my feedback additionally, and we’re making steps ahead.
“Final season, I already had the brand new bike and I felt tremendous good this time. We needed to work a bit of bit extra, however lastly, we arrived to a greater base to start out with.
“I am centered on myself, attempting to enhance my abilities, and my using type, and I feel the remainder will come. I suppose that the expertise of final season will assist additionally so much and hopefully, I am the one that may strive once more to beat Pecco.”
He added: “I really feel prepared. I really feel prepared for every part. However I feel we do not know but. These checks are actually… it is troublesome to analyse as a result of lots of people have already got lots of nice tempo, however we do not know precisely the tyres and I feel it will not be solely Pecco and me, there will probably be many extra riders.”
Ducati introduced a distinct fairing for its riders within the check, and Martin struggled together with his bike with it throughout the opening two days.
On the ultimate day, nonetheless, he lastly made it work and he admitted he was relieved after different Ducati riders had already felt its advantages earlier on.
“I had a little bit of a headache as a result of I noticed Pecco and Enea [Bastianini] prefer it so and I did not. So it was unusual. We usually have the identical feedback.
“So right this moment immediately within the morning I felt aggressive. Then I did the back-to-back like two occasions and I felt that it is a bit higher and had extra potential. So I am pleased that lastly we’ve the package deal for 2024.”
