Marc Marquez 'Far from the Podium' After Silverstone MotoGP Practice

Marc Marquez has openly admitted he is still far from the podium fight after Friday practice at the MotoGP British Grand Prix. The Ducati rider could only manage sixth place at Silverstone, 0.733s off the fastest pace.

Silverstone has never been Marquez's favorite circuit, but he did score a podium here last year. This year, however, things are different. Fitness in his right arm is again a limiting factor, making it hard to be aggressive through the fast, flowing corners that define this track.

"It was a day that we already expected," Marquez told media. "Normally here Aprilia, for the flowing corners, it's normally the strongest point of that bike, especially like Assen or here. We are working well, trying to find the best, and at the moment we are far from the podium; closer to the top five, but even I'm not in the top five."

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Marquez also admitted that his distinctive riding style is hard to change at 33 years old. He feels slower in the sections where he was strong last year. "In the points I was strong last year I'm a bit slower, because we know the reason," he said.

Interestingly, Marquez is more optimistic than he was at Assen. "A little bit more potential than Assen, I believe, but similar position. But I feel I'm a bit more optimistic than Assen," he explained.

With Ducati still having Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio up front, a podium challenge remains possible. However, Marquez stays realistic: "We'll try to enjoy the weekend; it doesn't matter the position."