Fourth in the Spanish GP was more than Marc Marquez was expecting after a difficult weekend on the Repsol Honda at Jerez.

On Friday the eight-time world champion was at the back of the top 20 before a step in qualifying saw the Spaniard line up in the middle of the front row for his first home race of the year. Cut to Sunday and he was in a three-rider scrap for the final podium position before eventually losing out to Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro but bettering the Ducati of Jack Miller in the closing stages.

“Was the maximum today!” Marquez said of his fourth place finish. “I saved my energy during all the weekend for Sunday, because still I'm not in the condition to do one weekend at 100 per cent. So I tried to save my energy on Friday, then, of course, yesterday I started to push and today, I give everything on the race. Spanish GP!

“Was the maximum, the fourth position but in one point of the race I say 'maybe the podium is possible’

While the fight was impressive, a text-book Marquez save at the final corner delighted the home fans even more.

“I knew that the podium, the key point was when I overtook Miller, to stop Aleix, because Aleix was faster than us and that is what I tried to do,” the Spaniard explained. “But is true that in the last corner I went a bit wide and then I lose the front and rear, both wheels! I think the Spanish fans, Spanish crowd pick me up again and save the crash.”

So does that mean the Repsol rider’s fitness is returning?

“Yeah, the best indicator for me will be if you see this kind of save on the right side,” he confirmed. “Is where I'm struggling more.

“On the left side I feel okay, on the left side I feel strong and on the left side I can ride like I want. On the right side is where I still am struggling a bit. We will see, we are continuing, we are pushing, we never give up.

“We are riding with some difficulties even the bike is not... Still we need to understand many things because still I'm not riding like I want but is what we have and I keep pushing like we see. Doesn't matter if it's against my brother in Portimao, against Miller here, or if it's for first position or tenth position. I will do my maximum.

“Tomorrow will be important test,” he said of Monday’s official test at the same circuit. “We have some big ideas. I don't know if I will do many laps or not, depend how I will get up. But I knew that have some important things to try so I will do a big effort to do it and we will see. We hope to do another step.”