THE MESSAGE MARQUEZ’S RACE PACE SENT TO MOTOGP RIVALS… read more
The final day of MotoGP testing at Sepang saw Marc Marquez make a bold statement to his rivals, showcasing his incredible pace and consistency on the factory Ducati. During a sprint simulation in the afternoon, Marquez averaged a time of 1m57.930 over a 10-lap run, comfortably outpacing the entire field, including his teammate Francesco Bagnaia.
Marquez’s performance was nothing short of impressive, with seven laps in the 1m57s bracket and only three in the 1m58s. His best time during the stint was 1m57.641s, while his slowest was 1m58.272s. This level of speed and consistency would have easily seen him beat Jorge Martin to victory in last year’s sprint race at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Interestingly, Marquez’s younger brother and Gresini rider Alex was the closest to him on long-term pace. Alex Marquez clocked three laps in the mid-1m57s, going faster than the six-time MotoGP champion on each occasion. However, more than half of his 10 laps were in the 1m58s bracket.
Bagnaia’s pace, on the other hand, was largely in the 1m58s, with the double champion only dipping into the 1m57s twice in his race simulation. This suggests that Marquez may have a slight edge over his teammate, at least in terms of raw speed.
To put Marquez’s long-run pace into perspective, it’s worth comparing it to Martin’s performance in the sprint race at Sepang last year. Marquez’s lap times from the same sprint race have also been added for context. He finished second on that occasion, nine tenths behind Martin.
Over the course of the test, Marquez completed a total of 169 laps around the Sepang circuit, covering a distance of 939km. This is in addition to the 49 laps he completed on a prototype bike at the Barcelona test in November. As a result, Marquez has now accumulated 1,166 kilometers of mileage as an official Ducati rider.
Marquez’s impressive performance at Sepang has sent a clear message to his rivals: he is a force to be reckoned with in 2025. With his incredible pace and consistency, he is likely to be a major contender for the championship. His teammates and rivals will need to be at the top of their game if they hope to keep up with the six-time MotoGP champion.
As the MotoGP season approaches, all eyes will be on Marquez and his Ducati team. Will they be able to maintain their impressive pace and challenge for the championship? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Marquez is a rider to watch in 2025.
In conclusion, Marc Marquez’s performance at the Sepang test was nothing short of impressive. His incredible pace and consistency on the factory Ducati sent a clear message to his rivals, and he is likely to be a major contender for the championship in 2025. With his impressive performance and accumulated mileage as an official Ducati rider, Marquez is a force to be reckoned with in the world of MotoGP.
