Marc Marquez is taking a cautious stance after the recent MotoGP test in Sepang, admitting that he needs to step up his game since there are "two or three riders who are faster than me." Despite this admission, the reigning MotoGP world champion expressed satisfaction with the progress made alongside Ducati during the test.
This event at Sepang was particularly significant for the 32-year-old racer, as it marked his first experience on a MotoGP bike since an unfortunate collision cut his 2025 season short during the Indonesian Grand Prix last October.
During the testing sessions, Marquez managed to secure the top spot on the first day and ultimately finished fourth overall at the conclusion of the three-day event, trailing behind notable competitors like Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marco Bezzecchi, and the fastest rider of the test, Alex Marquez.
Reflecting on the overall experience, Marquez noted, "Not bad. I mean, step by step, we tried a few things, and we go out with clever information," while speaking to MotoGP's After the Flag. He remains optimistic about the future, saying, "Let’s wait for the Thai test and try to continue in our work, but it looks like everything is in a good way."
However, he also emphasized the need for personal improvement, remarking, "Of course, I need to improve on my side, but step by step." He highlighted that his physical well-being felt best during the afternoon of the first day, although he gradually felt less comfortable as the days progressed.
Marquez acknowledged that the demanding conditions of the test, especially following a rainy day prior, contributed to the intensity of the sessions, stating, "We did a good job, a lot of laps. I know tomorrow I will be tired, but I will have time to recover."
Looking ahead, Marquez stressed that the upcoming Buriram test would be even more crucial than the Sepang event, as it would allow them to finalize their preparations before the season begins. He confessed that he must find ways to improve his pace to keep up with those faster riders, saying, "Thai test will be important, more important than this one, because then in just four days after the test we will have the race."
He further explained, "Here, when we come in October, it always seems like another circuit with less rubber. But today I’m happy, and these three days were very useful for us. But we need to improve because there are two or three riders who are faster than us."
On the third day at Sepang, Marquez experienced his first crash of the year, which occurred early during the session when he lost control of his Ducati at Turn 1. He attributed this mishap to experimenting with a different aerodynamic package that altered the bike's balance unexpectedly.
Lewis, a member of the Crash.net team since August 2024, has been covering MotoGP for five years, bringing valuable insights and analysis to the racing community.
