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As expected, the Lenovo Ducati team’s season began with a victory: a success conquered by Marc Marquez in the Sprint Race at Buriram, with no possibility of appeal. With his brother Alex separating the Spanish champion from his teammate Francesco Bagnaia, who completed an all-Ducati podium, holding off the surprising rookie Ai Ogura. A start more or less in line with the form factor shown in the pre-season tests, as Davide Tardozzi, Team Manager of the official team of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, also wished to underline.
“I think today we had confirmation of what we had already seen in Barcelona. I want to start with Alex, because I think he had a great race and a great pre-season. Ai Ogura also surprised everyone and was very, very good - Tardozzi began - Speaking of Marc and Pecco, we know very well that they are two champions and that the podium is the minimum they should aim for. Marc was very good, while Pecco perhaps had a few more problems, but when you are on the podium, in my opinion, it is always good”.
After having been the great adversary of the men in red for a long time, Marc Marquez has become their ace in the hole.
“It is a great satisfaction, because having with us the opponent who probably took away World Championships from us when he was in form, in 2017, 2018 and 2019, is a guarantee of performance, competitiveness and speed. We already knew this, but what we appreciated about Marc is the man and the professional - the Team Manager underlined - He is a true professional and is a champion both as a man and as a rider. This is something that has given us even more satisfaction”.
Since he has started to wear the Ducati colours, the eldest of the Marquez brothers has not only rediscovered the pleasure of racing, but also an ease of riding that he hasn't had for a long time.
"I think there will be races in which Marc will dominate even more than today and there will be races in which Marc will struggle and intelligently take home the result. I think it should be noted how Marc rode in the practice sessions and during the winter tests: he never did a fast lap on the first lap, because as he was comfortable with the bike he prepares and then pushes - the former rider observed - He has also changed this small habit, which I appreciated a lot, and I think Marc has also changed his attitude towards his speed and how to go fast. He goes fast, but sometimes he had the instinct to go fast immediately at the first corner, whereas now he builds speed".
While Marc seems to have everything under control, the situation is different on the other side of the Ducati garage, where Bagnaia seemed rather nervous throughout this weekend.
“It would be easy to say first of all ‘Pecco is nervous because Marc is going well’, but that’s not the case. Pecco has a problem at the moment: he’s not yet at 100% in the feeling with the bike. This is what bothers him, not Marc, also because their relationship was also visible under the podium - Tardozzi was keen to point out - Since the tests in Thailand, we haven’t been okay with Bagnaia. Unfortunately, more problems have occurred on his side, some of which were also due to us, and we’re not 100% there yet. However, Pecco’s seasons have never started with three victories and he has still won World Championships. So, when you’re on the podium, it’s always good”.
