Francesco Bagnaia is the rider to beat at the Thai Grand Prix in Marc Marquez's mind.

Marc Marquez will make his official debut with the Ducati Lenovo Team this weekend at the Thai Grand Prix.

Ahead of his first outing on a factory Ducati in a race weekend, the Spaniard admitted that he has a 'special feeling'.

"It is always a special feeling [before the first round] but it is normal," Marquez told MotoGP.com.

"I think that the feeling is good because it is the start of the season and I feel the pressure. But I like it so let's see, I feel calm, which is important because the pre-season has been good.

"But now the reality starts, we start the race weekend where everything can change. Let's see if we can start in a good way."

Many expect Marquez to be battling for victory this weekend. However, the eight-time Champion has lowered the expectations and has stated that he would be happy to be on the podium this weekend.

"I would like to be on the podium in the first race," he said.

"But I know that I have a very strong opponent, I have a very strong teammate, and many riders were fast here during pre-season.

"We need to understand during the weekend where we are and where we can fight on Sunday."

This weekend marks the end of Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia's partnership from pre-season testing. But Marquez believes that the two title contenders working alone is the 'correct way to work'.

"It is the correct way to work in a team," Marquez explained.

"Try to work together in the pre-season to find the best package possible, and I think we did it. But now he will work with his own team, inside the same garage.

"But the target for Ducati is to paint the Championship in the colour red at the end of the year.

"If we are fighting with Pecco it means we are fighting for the Championship. Because he is the rider to beat, he finished second, first, first, second across the last four years.

"I will try to learn from him how to manage the situation inside the garage."