168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Marc Marquez is “on target” to be a MotoGP championship conte💎n🌼der at the midway stage of this season, Simon Crafar believes.

This weekend’s Portuguese MotoGP is the second round of 2024, a𓆏nd Marquez’s second opportunity to race on a Ducati.

He finished P5 and P4 at the season-opener in Qatar to underl🌳ine potential 🅷that did not exist last year, when he was on a Honda.

“Marc is on target. That’s the best way to describe it,” broadcaster Crafar explained from inside the Portimao🐽 paddock.

“He has given 🍬himself a goal. He’s a very experienced rider, 🥃the most experienced in the field at winning championships and races.

“He knows that championships are like wet races.

“Everyone starts with a hiss and a roar, and gets carried away. You lose some contenders to crashes and inju𝓰ries.

“The way to finish on top is not to do that!

“He didn’t get in a figh💮t [at the end of the 🧸Qatar MotoGP], he realised Jorge Martin had more, he brought it home.

“He is on target to fight for the championship.

“At midway, to be one of the few left 🎃who ꧟can fight for the title.

“That’s his end goal, what he’s aiming at. Stay on the bike, gets resu✨lts, get points…”

This weekend’s Portimao round represents a new and stiffer challenge because, unlike Qatar, Marquez has not previously tested his Ducati at💝 the circuit.

“The🅰 real test is here because it’s the first one where we haven’t tested,” Crafar 🌳said.

“If your bike works, you feel comfy on it, here is great to ride around. If you don’t, it’s horr🥀ible, it feels dangerous, there are so many places you can crash.

“Pedro Acosta and Marc haven’t ridden their bikes here. I💞t will be interesting how quick they can develop through the weekend.”

The eight-time world champion’s age will ꦇmake it tougher for him to adjust after 11 years at Honda but Crafar backs Marquez.

“Marc isಌ 31. I found that’s the beginning of the hard stage to adapt to change,” Cr🏅afar explained.

“He’s got a new bike, he’s figuring it out.

“In your 20s you are like a sponge. In 𒁃your 30s you have habits that are hard to🗹 change.

“Marc is doing a great job so far. Mid♛way, he will 𝄹be in the fight!”

Despite Marquez’s early potential on his GP23, the dominance of the GP24 is a major pro♏blem for him.

Francesco Bagnaia andꦗ Jorge Martin, last year’s champion and run🌜ner-up, won the first grand prix and sprint race respectively this year, riding the developed Ducati.

“People like Jorge Mar🐽tin are a nightm🔯are for him,” Crafar said about Marquez.

“Bang, Q2! Bang, front row! How do you pass t🍎hem when you are still trying to set your bike up?

He is adapting. He will find setting and know how 🐻 to fight the oppositioꦇn with it. He will get stronger.”

Crafar added that the ‘24 Ducati, in possession of the factory and Pramac duos, is a bike which “hits the sweet spot” of development from the version that Marquez ri𒅌des.