Rider-wise, the injury and surgery victims arrived at least 12 days better than at the tests, and in Marquez’s case apparently even more than that.
“I’m really happy, because I can forget my injury and shoulder problems,” he said on Thursday. He was “close to my 100 percent”, and confirmed that after his record-breaking time on Friday “I have not any problem.
Marquez, Qatar MotoGP 2019
“Now we need to work on the bike and how to improve,” he said. But he didn’t expect help from new team-mate Lorenzo. “We are like day and night. I am aggressive and he is smooth.”
Lorenzo confirmed that they would not be able to make the bike faster for each other, preferring a “sun and moon” analogy. His own condition was not fully healed, but if he could get the bike to his liking, he would be able to run a strong race pace.
“I use very different settings from the other Honda riders. We’re not close to our full potential … but we will arrive. It is about experience,” he said.
Lorenzo, Qatar MotoGP 2019
By Michael Scott
Photos GnG