Paddock optimistic as Marc Marquez “restrains himself” on Ducati debut

Marc Marquez will be pleased with first MotoGP round on a Ducati after finishing 18 seconds aꦉhead of the best Honda

Marc Marquez
Marc Marquez

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Marc Marquez was overtaken by Pedro Acosta but claimed the position back to end the Qatar MotoGP positively.

Teenage premier class debꦏutant Acosta thrillingly dived past the esteemed Marquez int𓆏o fourth to signal his intention.

But when Acosta’s tyres were worn, Marqꦏuez secured P4 on his first💎 grand prix riding a Ducati.

TNT Sports’ Neil🍨 Hodgson insisted Marquez will be “pleased, very pleased” with the first round of 2024, and his first since leaving Honda.

Hodgson continued: “Look, where did the Hondas finish? The t🎃op Honda was Johann Zarco in 12th pl🔥ace.

“You’re not in the race, are you?

“So if Marc was on the Honda, of course he’d be in front of [the current Honda riders]. But he’d be nowherꦇe near the front.

“Marc wants to win but t🦄his was a solid weekend for him.

“I’m pleased he didn’t crash.”

Marquez f💧inished 18 seconds in front of Zarco, the best-placed Honda, in Qatar on Sunday.

Sylvain Guintoli said: “Heಞ’ll be happy with that, really happy. He is still adapting to the Ducati riding style after spending all that𒅌 time at Honda.

“Making that lap time in the braking zones, he’s having to restrain himself, not to push the bike too hard, and to use the efficienc𝔉y of the Ducati on the corner exit.

“It’s working. This is not hisꦆꦐ favourite track. He has only won once here, even when he was dominating.

“He’ll be really happy with both of his races. He was close the podium, great race pa💖ce, there wou🐬ld have been a lot of learning.

“Watch out for Marc Mar🐎quez in﷽ the rest of the championship!”

Michael Laverty added: “It’s a tough track for him - he’s not cꦇrashed, he’s not made many mistakes, he’s brought it home in fourth and fifth, won points. He’ll be going home happy♕, for sure.”

Marquez quit Honda after three injury-ravaged sea🍒sons on a bike which became less competitive.

Riding a GP23 Ducati, he finished fifth in Saturday’s sprint before claiming P4 in ꦍSunday’s race.

France𒅌sco Bagnaia, the reigning champion, won the grand prix after Jorge Martin won the sprint, meaning last year’s title rivals are immediately establishing themselves in 2024.

Marquez may have some way to go before he can enter the championship fi🍬ght, but in Qatar he made notable progress.

Tech3 GASGAS’ Acosta, meanw🤪hile, is the most exciting rookie in th﷽e premier class since Marquez in 2013.

He fell back to a P9 finish after exciting overtakes on both Marquez brot♐hers.

Laverty said: “At one point, I t𒈔hought ‘dare to dream!’ A podium on his debut?

“But there was a ꧙comfort issue, he was losing grip. He started to adjust himself on the straights.

“These overtakes were a🐲gainst seasoned campaigners in MotoGP. He means 𝄹business, a class act.

“He’s so in control of his machine. Wh♏ether it k𒅌icks sideways when he didn’t expect it to, he got it back in line.

“His overtak🍬es were clinical. He was at one with his motorcycle and it was a shame that he dropped back at the end.

“There was more in t🌳he locker. Without the tyre wear issue…

“You could see whඣat it meant to hi🐟m and the team. An excellent first weekend in MotoGP.”

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