MotoGP Sepang February Testing
Marquez rode in “easy mode” after Sepang MotoGP test crashes
Honda’s Marc Marquez says he rode in “easy mode” on the final day of the Sepang MotoGP test as he adapts to the new RC213V after two crashes on Saturday.
Lewis Duncan
Edited: Feb 7, 2022, 8:56 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The 2022 Honda is a radical evolution from its predecessor as it seeks to create a bike with better rear traction.
This has seemingly made the bike more rear-biased, with Marquez admitting on Saturday after two crashes that he doesn’t understand the front end of the new bike right now and is having to “sacrifice” his strong point of corner entry.
Marquez is also still recovering his bike fitness following a winter on the sidelines with a vision problem.
Ending a rain-hit Sunday eighth overall, 0.201 seconds off the best pace, Marquez says he had to ask his team to stop his morning programme early because he was “not riding in a good way” and had planned more running in the afternoon before the wet weather arrived.
However, he was buoyed by the fact “the speed is there” on the bike.
“For today we planned to keep riding, this was the plan, but I asked the team to stop,” he said.
“I wasn’t riding in a good way and it was better to stop and come back in the afternoon.
“Unfortunately, we had rain in the afternoon. But anyway, this is the best training, riding on the bike, and also to understand the new bike.
“It was the first time I could ride with the new bike.
“The good thing is the speed is there. When I pushed this morning, the speed was there and when I push in the midday the speed was there.
“Just yesterday I made two mistakes, today I wanted to slow down and ride in easy mode.
“In the afternoon in the damp conditions I went out again to understand the bike and it was fast again.”
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
MotoGP testing moves to the new Mandalika circuit in Indonesia next weekend for three more days of running.
But Marquez does not see this as being a problem for him in terms of getting to understand the new Honda while also trying to improve his bike fitness.
“I mean this test in Malaysia was the most difficult test,” he added.
“It’s a really physical track, it’s really demanding and it was the most difficult test.
“It was the first one. Now we have four days to take rest and come back and ride another three days in Mandalika.
“I’m looking forward to staying on the bike and doing more laps.”
Read Also:
- Quartararo “not happy” with Yamaha bike after first MotoGP test
- Aprilia signs ex-Alonso F1 trainer to help Vinales in MotoGP
- Has Ducati revealed MotoGP’s latest tech secret?
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Quartararo “not happy” with Yamaha bike after first MotoGP test
Next article What a two-year difference in MotoGP bike spec makes
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lewis Duncan
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
MotoGP
MotoGP
German GP
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?
MotoGP
MotoGP
German GP
What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?
More from
Marc Marquez
Marc Marquez jokes Alex would be a 'bad brother' if he risked title fight
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
4 h
Marc Marquez jokes Alex would be a 'bad brother' if he risked title fight
Marc Marquez on Qatar GP: 'I would rather be somewhere else'
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
22 h
Marc Marquez on Qatar GP: 'I would rather be somewhere else'
More from
Honda HRC
Honda names Jake Dixon as Joan Mir's substitute for Qatar GP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
Honda names Jake Dixon as Joan Mir's substitute for Qatar GP
Joan Mir says Marc Marquez’s MotoGP rivals couldn’t cope with title pressure
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
Joan Mir says Marc Marquez’s MotoGP rivals couldn’t cope with title pressure
Alex Marquez undergoes surgery on his right shoulder and begins recovery at home
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Alex Marquez undergoes surgery on his right shoulder and begins recovery at home
Latest news
"Exhausted" George Russell set for Brazilian F1 grid penalty
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
"Exhausted" George Russell set for Brazilian F1 grid penalty
F1 Brazilian GP: Lando Norris pops to the top of timesheets with upgraded McLaren in FP1
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
F1 Brazilian GP: Lando Norris pops to the top of timesheets with upgraded McLaren in FP1
Ferrari says abolishing BoP should be “final goal” of 2030 WEC Hypercar regulations
WEC
WEC WEC
Bahrain
1 h
Ferrari says abolishing BoP should be “final goal” of 2030 WEC Hypercar regulations
"FIA rating pushes drivers like me into retirement" - Sebastien Bourdais
WEC
WEC WEC
Bahrain
2 h
"FIA rating pushes drivers like me into retirement" - Sebastien Bourdais
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe