Marc Marquez surprised to lead Qatar practice

Rookie sensation Marc Marquez said he was surprised to top the timesheets after the opening three practice sessions ahead of his much-hyped MotoGP debut in Qatar tomorrow night (Sunday).

The Repsol Honda rider clocked a best lap of 1.56.084 to finish just 0.001s clear of compatriot and reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo.

Fourth after the opening practice at the floodlit Losail International Circuit last night, a lap of 1.56.477 moved the 20-year-old to the top of the timesheets in the second session.

He found almost another 0.4s though in last night’s final session to deny factory Yamaha rider Lorenzo, who thought he’d done enough to claim top spot with a lap of 1.56.085.

Marquez, who has easily outpaced an out of sorts factory Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa all weekend, said: “When I came in and saw the times on the TV screens I didn’t expect to be fastest.”

Marquez has impressed throughout the winter testing campaign and the highlight came when he headed a private HRC and Yamaha test at the new Circuit of the Americas in Texas.

He’d also been competitive at Sepang but not so much of a threat on the shorter and tighter Jerez track in Spain last month when the pre-season schedule finished.
Marquez said he favoured longer and faster tracks that helped explain why he was much stronger at the floodlit Losail International Circuit in Doha.

He added: “After Malaysia, Austin and Jerez and now here what I see is that this circuit is longer and faster and a little easier for me. When it is tighter and shorter like Jerez it is a little more difficult because there is too much power in the bike.

“At tracks like Qatar it is a little easier for me to adapt my riding style to the MotoGP bike.”

When Lorenzo made his MotoGP debut in Qatar back in 2008, he stormed to pole position and finished on the podium.

Asked whether he could repeat that achievement, reigning Moto2 world champion Marquez added: “It will be difficult, especially because the Yamaha is quite strong at this circuit and we know from qualifying last year that Jorge is strong on one lap. 

“For sure I will try but it will be very difficult, but taking pole is not the most important thing.”