Fifth at the end of the Buriram test, Alex Marquez appeared quite satisfied. Able to complete the planned program despite some aspects still needing review and reinforcement, the Gresini team rider was also involved in a harmless crash in the afternoon that briefly halted his work. "It was an accident without consequences. I was doing a race simulation and I crashed. The bike slid away and hit the barriers with the front wheel. There was some damage, but everything is under control," the Spaniard reassured everyone.
How would you assess what you've done so far?
"We did a good job and tried different things. I'm not completely comfortable on the bike yet, nor am I satisfied with the test. I'd say we're at an 8 out of 10. There are still things to improve. Compared to yesterday, we made progress in terms of pace, and I was able to ride better, so overall I felt more confident."
What do you think still needs to be improved?
"On a MotoGP bike, you always want to improve everything, from entry to traction to cornering. It's never enough. The perfect bike doesn't exist. As far as I'm concerned, I feel more prepared than last year and confident, but the other manufacturers have also proven to be fast here, especially Aprilia. That doesn't surprise me, and I expected it, given that Bezzecchi flew around this track last year. So we'll have to be smart and have a solid race weekend."
Was having Michele Pirro in the garage helpful?
"He behaved like a normal teammate. He had his own program to follow and things to try for Ducati, so we did different work."
Is the GP26 forcing you to make a big adjustment compared to the GP24?
"No, because they are similar. It's true that when you try to improve something, something else gets worse. However, I think the balance of our package is good and more complete than the old one. We have more potential and more opportunities to improve during the year and try different things. As I said, I feel more ready and confident. We have everything we need to have fun, but we also have to be realistic. In the first race last year, we had three Ducatis in the top three places and the advantage over our rivals was greater. Now the fight will be tighter and consistency will be even more key."
You're starting the season as one of the favorites. Does that put pressure on you?
"No, I feel more confident. I know I'll find myself in a situation I've already experienced, whereas last year everything was new to me. Back then, I went from finishing the season in eighth place to fighting for the title, and I didn't have the experience to handle that kind of situation, so much so that at a certain point, I paid for it. Now I feel more prepared, but there's no way of knowing if it will be enough. The championship is long, and the details will have to be managed well."
Is the new lowering device brought in by Ducati giving you more confidence in the corners?
"I'm not going to say how it is."