The Spanish rider Marc Márquez has expressed his concern about Ducati’s performance on the opening day of the Indonesian Grand Prix. After the first training sessions, Márquez acknowledged that his brand is struggling with a deficit of at least half a second compared to Aprilia.
As expected, the Aprilia team dominated the first day in Mandalika, with Raul Fernández leading an impressive 1-2-3 for the Noale team. In his best time, Márquez positioned fifth, 0.7 seconds behind Fernández and 0.5 seconds off the best time of Marco Bezzecchi, also from Aprilia.
This circuit has been a hurdle for Ducati, where the fast structure and rigid rear tires from Michelin have not adapted well to the Desmosedici model. Márquez has faced additional difficulties, as he has not been able to finish any of his previous races in Mandalika.
Márquez commented that, despite starting Friday with a good time, Aprilia’s performance has notably improved throughout the day. “We started with an acceptable base, which allowed us to work, but the Aprilia riders are one step ahead,” he added.
The rider stated that the deficit is not illusory and must be addressed realistically. “The actual entry time is clear; we cannot hide from that. We must push ourselves to the maximum to extract the best performance from what we have,” said Márquez.
Looking towards the future, Márquez is aware of the challenge of fighting for a podium place this weekend, although much of the hope relies on a strong qualifying. “Now we have to face reality. I will have to make a substantial change to be in the battle to match those in front,” he concluded.
The situation in Mandalika seems to be a crucial moment for Ducati, which is looking to adjust its strategy and maximize results on a circuit that has historically been difficult for the team.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
