Marc Márquez has made a strong start at the Malaysian Grand Prix, with outstanding performances during Friday’s practice sessions. The rider from the Ducati Team aims to use this advantage to distance himself in the championship battle, taking advantage of the compromised situation of his rival Jorge Martín.
Despite having a modest record at the Sepang circuit, Márquez showed an immediate connection with his GP26, highlighting that his feeling was positive from the very beginning. ‘There are years when I feel good from the start, and others when I find it more difficult. Today, however, the feeling has been excellent,’ he commented.
During the day, Márquez led both the morning and afternoon sessions, with a small scare in the first part of the second practice. ‘Aside from the minor fall at corner 15, where I’m taking the most risks, the rest of the session was perfect,’ the rider added. His performance yesterday was marked by a time of 1m57.000s, placing him in a privileged position against his competitors.
With three Ducati riders among the top five, Marc’s brother, Álex, occupying the second position, a great opportunity arises to consolidate the championship lead. Currently, Jorge Martín is 10 points behind Márquez, and his participation over the weekend is uncertain due to an injury.
Despite this context, Márquez does not plan to adopt a conservative strategy: ‘I am in a championship position that is in my hands, so I want to make the most of my superiority here.’ He also recalled that, while an exceptional performance was noted today, victory cannot be celebrated before the weekend is over.
Marco Bezzecchi, who is 50 points behind Márquez, acknowledged that Ducati has always been strong at Sepang and expressed his intention to improve his performance. ‘The pace is not bad, but I still lack something to compete more directly with the Ducati riders,’ he stated.
On a day when most of Márquez’s rivals suffered interruptions due to track traffic, the Ducati rider has shown that, if he maintains this line of progression, he can be the clear favorite for victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
