Reigning MotoGP World Champion had three models of Honda RC213V to try on the first day of Sepang MotoGP testing in order to make a choice of how to go forwards for the rest of the year.
The Repsol Honda man rode last year’s bike, one carrying the Valencia setup which he didn’t like one bit and a third compromising the two. Marquez chose the third option and managed to set the fastest time of the day.
Today we test three bikes. One was last year’s which we bring just in case, one was Valencia bike and the other was a compromise between last year’s bike and the Valencia bike. IN the end, it was difficult after holiday’s to try three bikes but in the end but I choose the new bike,” said Marquez, speaking at Sepang.
“I feel good, still we need to improve many things and we have many items to try. The target today was to choose the bike for work these next few days.
“What I like about the bike is front confidence, but we lose a lot in the brake point so I asked to Honda to keep the same brake point like last year’s bike and they did a really good job as it feels exactly the same.
“Of course we lose a little on the front confidence but it’s more than last year so that is good, we find a compromise. During all the day, I was trying many things and it is difficult to understand the level but in the end I put a new tyre to see where I am and we are OK.”
Rossi has led for most of the day, putting in his fastest lap of 2’00.380 on lap 27 of 57 but Marquez, in his usual style, got the hammer down in the last couple of minutes and slipped into the lead with a 2’00.262 - a little under a second slower than his best lap from this time last year.
Rossi’s Movistar Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was third on 2’00.521 with Andrea Dovizioso, riding the works Ducati GP14.3, in fourth place but less than a tenth of a second slower than the former world champion.
