The sixth-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is riding the title-winning Ducati GP24, while Jorge Martin is atop the updated model.
At the Qatar MotoGP, though, the disparity in top speed between the two Ducatis caught some off guard.
The top five topics of discussion following the Qatar MotoGP
In the US, MotoGP is referred to as “a sleeping giant” that is “primed for growth.”
However, Marquez lost time on his acceleration when he rounded the last bend, not because of the different machinery.
After the race, Lorenzo asked Marquez, “I was a bit shocked at the speed difference compared to Martin’s bike, which I didn’t see yesterday,” curious as to what was creating the speed disparity.
However, it became clear today that the engine was lacking two or three tenths. I’m not sure what set it off.
The straightforward query that follows is, “What’s missing to win? Did the circuit affect you as well? Here in Qatar, you haven’t had much success.
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Not related to the bike’s capabilities, Marquez had a direct answer for his erstwhile opponent.
During the sprint, Marquez said he could have done a better job of riding the last bend.
To which Lorenzo said, “Yes, well, I only won once, in 2014,” Marquez replied. “I have always found Qatar to be a little difficult, but my goal was to place among the top five in both the sprint and the race.
But more than the engine’s lack of speed, I made a mistake. My departure from the last turn was not good.
“I was performing really well during the sprint. We also made a minor adjustment to the bike in the hopes that it would help, but we soon realized that it didn’t make me very comfortable, which hindered my acceleration—which is crucial in these kinds of fights.
“I was winning other games, but it wasn’t enough to make up for it. For the upcoming races, we must keep this in mind, but for now, it is what is lacking.
“I need to get better at handling both the front tire and those quick turns.
We’ll see if we can learn from this and move on. I felt more at ease in the sprint, but I fought the bike a little too much.