Marc Marquez says MotoGP will do just fine without former rival Valentino Rossi, as this weekend's Qatar MotoGP will signify the beginning of thᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚe first premier class season without the nine-time world champion since 2001. 

Marquez, who could tie Rossi for nine world championship wins should he take home the 2022 title -  would also mean both riders are tied on seven apiece MotoGP - was blunt in his response to being asked about a f🎀irst season without the Italian. 

Marquez added: "I mean he was not one of the main opponen🥂ts for the title. In the last years I was looking for th🐈e fastest guys. 

"The fastest guys were Pecco [Bagnaia], Quartararo and Joan [Mir] in 2020. Of course MotoGP loses an icon, but MotoGP continues. I think it will be a nice season."&ℱnbsp; 

Whileꦬ the Repsol Honda rider is unsurꦚe whether a victory challenge will come in Qatar on Sunday, a circuit he’s won just once at since joining MotoGP, the bigger picture for 2022 includes fighting for the world title. 

It's a goal that has been made clear on two fronts - the first being his return to full fitness, while the second is due to Honda bringing a much improved RC213Vꩵ to the fore based off pre-season testing results.  

"Of course for 2022 I want to fight for the title. For the Qatar GP maybe I’m not ready, but during the weekend we will see where we🃏🃏 are," said Marquez. 

"Honda took a big ste༺p with the bike and honestly speaking, I feel like I changed brands because it’s a completely dif🌌ferent bike. 

"Since I arrived in Honda there have always been improvements but the character of the bike anဣd the way to ride was very similar. 

"Nಞow it’s a big change. In Malaysia I struggled a bit but in one lap I felt the potenti𓆉al and the lap time was coming. 

"Then in Mandalika I already tried to bring the bike to m🥂y riding style. During the first races we will find small things, but the base is nice.✨"