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A good start is half the finish, and Alex Marquez hopes this wise proverb isn't wrong. After being fastest in November's Barcelona test, the Gresini team's Spanish rider had a repeat in Sepang: not only with the best flying lap time, but also with a benchmark in the Sprint simulation. We didn't need to ask how he felt. All we had to do was look at his face.
"The first two test days had already been positive, but this one was even better," he began. "In general, we did a good job, apart from the fast lap, which is always important, because you feel the bike responding when you ask it for the maximum. The most important thing is the pace, and the sprint simulation went very well. Everything looks good, but we're in Sepang, and I love this circuit. We have to stay calm, and go to Thailand to see where we're at."
Better be very careful?
"This is a perfect circuit for me, but I was also fast in Barcelona. I also like Buriram. Let's see how it'll go on another track and how fast the factory riders will be when they put it all together."
Meanwhile, you beat them in the long run.
"The simulation was very good. I was in the pits. I saw Pecco's, then Marc's where he had pushed. I also pushed hard. We're close and, in the end, I was faster," he said, laughing. "All joking aside, it's nice to be fast and consistent."
A whole different story tha a year ago.
"I struggled a lot last year with the GP23 but, when you're struggling, you learn more. What I learned will help me progess this year. With the Ducati 2023, from zero to ten, my confidence was seven. With this bike, it's nine."
How much do you like the GP24?
"It's definitely the best I've ridden, although the GP22 was very good. It feels like its sister."
With this start, have your goals for the season change?
"Having a solid year will be important, trying to finish the championship in a good position, but I have to remain calm. There are still a lot of things to discover."
