The opening day at the Lusail International Circuit provided a stark reminder of the challenges facing Marc Marquez as he eyes a potential eighth world title. Despite securing second place overall in the Practice session, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider insists that the championship battle is still far from over.
Under the glare of Qatar’s floodlights, Marquez faced fierce competition from rivals riding with nothing to lose. VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio led the charge by smashing the lap record, while Marco Bezzecchi showed formidable pace on his Aprilia. Marquez acknowledged that the track dynamics are extremely tight and demand absolute focus.
"The championship is not done. I mean, I still feel that it’s far, especially because Bezzecchi, as we see, is pushing and riding in a very good way," Marquez told TNT Sports. He also highlighted the resilience of Jorge Martin, who remains competitive despite nursing a wrist injury.
Marquez’s day was not entirely straightforward, as he lost precious track time due to a broken chain on one of his bikes. While he declined to reveal the specific cause, the eight-time world champion expressed relief that the issue occurred during Friday's practice rather than later in the weekend.
"The positive thing is that it happened in Practice. I believe now Ducati will evaluate and fix it for the rest of the weekend," he added. For Marquez, this is a tricky weekend because many riders are fast and consistent, making every session vital.
With the requirement to outscore Martin by 30 points and Bezzecchi by eight to clinch the title, the pressure in the Ducati garage is palpable. Marquez remains committed to focusing on his own garage, aiming to improve in key areas ahead of the crucial qualifying and race sessions under the desert night sky.
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Jorge Martin claims P7 in Qatar MotoGP Practice despite a wrist fracture. Read how he plans to stop Marc Marquez's title charge at Lusail.
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