Valencia MotoGP Test: Ducati: “No surprise” Marc Marquez had a smile on his face after first laps

Marc Marquez’s reaction to his first laps on a Ducati MotoGP bike is sure to be one of the standout moments of the Valencia test.
Marc
Marc

Parking his black and red GP23 at the Gresini garage at the end of an eight-lap run, Marquez walked inside t🌸he garage and initi🍎ally remained poker-faced as he removed his helmet and earplugs.

But the eight-time world♐ champion, winless for the last two years at Repsol Honda, gave the ga🔴me away when he glanced at new crew chief Frankie Carchedi.

Marquez broke into a big smile and raised his eyebrows to 🐼indicate his delight, before the team blocked🌞 the cameras and garage doors were pulled down.

But the brief moment wasn’t lost on the rest of theܫ pitlane, including senior Ducati management.

“He had a smile on his face after the first few laps on a Ducati. It’s no surprise,” Ducati Sporting director Paolo Ciabatti to🐻ld MotoGP.com.

“When a manufacturer is able to win with six different riders, it means the bike is good and is easy for different riding styles. In t🔜his respect, I wasn’t expecting anything difficult for Marc. He’s an eight-time world champion.

"His brother has probably also given him some hints in the past season about how good the bike is, how good the team is. It’s a family-style environment but with🥂 skilled technicians, it’s probably what Marc needed after so many difficult seasons with Honda.

“We must say that deciding to leave a factory team to join an independent team, to find fun again, is the fee♐ling that a rider needs.

“Marc is not the youngest rider but he’s not that old, at all. After a few🥃 disappointing seasons he just wants to enjoy it - and he will be able tꦅo enjoy the Ducati, for sure.

“It will bring challenges t꧙o the other൩ Ducati riders, for sure. It’s going to be interesting.

“The other manufacturers won’t be happy - ‘it’s a Ducati domination!’ What can I say? What ca🐓n I do? It was his choice, and it was the best choice for Gresini.”

Marquez ended the test fourth-fastest.

Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and ha♎s seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront ಌof the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.

Read More