Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez isn’t yet ready to take the fight to Jorge Lorenzo in tomorrow’s Catalunya race as even though a host of improvements to the electronics and engine of his RC213V have made it more controllable he is still lacking in places.

Marquez says he now has the corner entry sliding problem under control but his Repsol Honda is still spinning too much on corner exit and thinks he only has the grip to hold on to the Movistar Yamaha for the early part of tomorrow’s rac,

“In free practice three we try many things and then in FP4 we try to put the best things we find and it looks like the pace was better but still not enough to be with both Yamaha riders, especially Jorge but Valentino is strong,” said Marquez, speaking at the track.

“In warm up we will try to find something to be a bit closer for the race. At the moment we are missing rear grip on corner exit. The bike is spinning and moving, everybody is struggling but Honda riders are struggling a bit more.

“In the first five laps, I think I can stay with Jorge but then my tyre drops and he looks like he is able to keep it a little bit better. Honestly, we are not ready to fight with the Yamahas.

“I am happy for the corner entry. Still is not the same as last year but we improve a lot on this problem we have of sliding, with the exhausts and electronics we have improved and I am happy.”