Marc Marquez stated he spent a lot of the Jerez take a look at working to enhance his feeling with the Ducati’s entrance finish, which he has recognized as his most important weak point thus far within the 2026 MotoGP season.
The reigning world champion evaluated a brand new entrance fairing and swingarm on Monday, as Ducati introduced a raft of updates to the post-Spanish GP take a look at to tackle chief rival Aprilia.
The Spaniard completed the day fourth on the timesheets, simply over three tenths down on Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura, as Aprilia riders locked out the highest three positions with a closely revised RS-GP.
Marquez has struggled to really feel comfy on the GP26 for a lot of this season and, regardless of taking two dash wins, is but to safe a podium end in a Sunday race.
His Spanish GP weekend additionally led to disappointment regardless of a formidable pole place and an unlikely dash win, with a crash on lap two resulting in an early retirement. Whereas he admitted to a mistake, he failed to supply a correct clarification for the accident.
Monday’s Jerez take a look at supplied Marquez an opportunity to attempt new elements and enhance his entrance feeling, with the 33-year-old inspired by the progress he and Ducati made on monitor.
„We concentrated many of the day on the aerodynamics, however we have been additionally working on the identical time on the chassis space,“ he stated.
„We had some modifications there, and a few fascinating issues. So it was necessary to attempt to regain the sensation of the entrance tyre. That’s the place more often than not we’re struggling extra this 12 months.
„From that time, we did some steps, and the aerodynamics have been additionally useful in some areas for my driving model.“
Bikes of Marc Marquez, Ducati Workforce
Photograph by: German Garcia
Could is ready to be a busy month in MotoGP, with three races scheduled throughout western Europe. One other one-day take a look at after the Catalan GP may also supply producers the chance to additional fine-tune their bikes earlier than turning consideration to the 2027 rules.
Marquez is hoping a few of the new parts he tried at Jerez will be launched within the close to future.
„Ducati is working tremendous onerous. We had many elements on this take a look at, and this makes me completely happy as a result of it was a busy however fascinating take a look at,“ he stated.
„Now we have to consider all of the elements and [decide] when to introduce these new elements as a result of in three weeks we’ve one other take a look at in Barcelona.
„There are issues we have examined that may assist instantly, some greater, some smaller. It’ll go higher, some worse, it relies upon. We’ll arrive at Le Mans and will probably be a special monitor, and the climate will certainly be completely different.“
Marquez additionally took encouragement from the truth that all Ducati riders have been on the identical web page after the take a look at, as they supplied worthwhile suggestions to the Borgo Panigale marque.
Whereas Ducati secured its first grand prix win of the 12 months on Sunday, it stays unclear whether or not it now has a extra aggressive bundle than Aprilia, which dominated the opening flyaway rounds.
„I believe a number of issues have been understood, notably what we have seen with the brand new aerodynamics,“ he stated. „However we have additionally been engaged on the bike’s chassis, and all of the riders have had roughly the identical suggestions: Pecco [Bagnaia], Alex [Marquez].
„Above all, mine has been very clear, about the place I believe we have to enhance. Effectively, I am not speaking in regards to the path, I am merely speaking in regards to the bike’s dealing with, and I believe we have all had the identical remark. That is constructive.“
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