MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Marc Marquez conceded he is “not riding in an automatic way” on the 2026 Ducati after Friday Practice at the Thai Grand Prix, despite finishing second for Ducati Lenovo Team.
The reigning world champion begins the season as a title favourite, but ended the opening day at Buriram over four tenths adrift of Marco Bezzecchi, who topped Practice for Aprilia. Marquez has opted to start the campaign using the 2024-spec aero package to reduce strain on his right shoulder, which he injured at Mandalika last October, and acknowledged that adaptation remains ongoing.
“I need to improve myself,” Marquez said.
“I need to keep working on my riding style. Still, I’m not riding in an automatic way.”
He also pointed to Aprilia’s early advantage at Buriram.
“For some reason, they are able to make the different [tyre] casing we have here and also Mandalika work.”
Practice conditions were complicated by intermittent rain threats, creating tension around the top-10 cut-off for direct Q2 access. Marquez initially ran the medium rear tyre, a strategy that briefly left him outside the Q2 zone before a late soft-tyre time attack secured safe passage.
“Yeah, it was a tricky session, especially at the end, because at one moment I was out of Q2 since we started Practice with the medium rear tyre. We took a bit of a risk there,” he explained.
“But when I saw I was already in P5, I was calm. Then we were able to do the last time attack in a good way.”
Marquez admitted Ducati was “lucky” to avoid both factory riders dropping into Q1 after team-mate Francesco Bagnaia ended Practice 15th.
“We were lucky that there were only some drops and not like in Moto2, where it was heavier rain.”
With Bezzecchi appearing “one step ahead of everybody,” Marquez stressed the need for continued refinement ahead of qualifying and the Sprint. Closing the performance gap to Aprilia will be critical if Ducati is to reassert control at the season opener in Buriram.
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