Marc Marquez has told reporters that he believes the new standard-spec ECU is a huge step backwards following the first test of the 2016 season at Valencia.

Marquez topped the timesheets in western Spain this afternoon, but did experience a crash – losing the front end – after just four laps with the new Michelin tyres on his RC213V.

However, although he concedes the Michelins are a challenge, he believes the new electronics package introduced by Dorna may be the biggest hurdle next season.

“From (the crash) we start again the test,” Marquez said. “We did a few laps with the current bike from 2015 and then we stayed on the 2015 bike but with new software and that is where we lose more time to understand well and we must use a lot of time. 

“It looks like we did one step back with this because it will be difficult to arrive in the same level that we have before but we are working there, especially with traction control, torque delivery is where we must improve to improve more the connection with the gas. We are working on that.

“The test today has been not one of the best tests but really interesting to try the new software.”

The Spaniard was just a few laps into his first outing of the test when coming through turn 3 his RC213V went from under him and plunged down the track.

It was a crash Marquez said did not surprise him, following the tests on the tyres he experienced at Misano and then Aragon, where he received varying levels of grip.

“On the Michelins, we start not so good with a small crash already on the third lap but suddenly there I saw that Michelin tyres are working different depending on the asphalt,” said the two-time MotoGP world champion.

“For example, Bridgestone you go from one circuit to another one and it’s very similar but already I feel this with Michelin from Misano to Aragon – but I say ‘ok, maybe it will be the temperature’ – but from Aragon to here it is working again completely different. The feeling is different.

As for his final few laps of the day, of which he spent a lot of it on the new bike for 2016, the Repsol Honda rider concluded: “On the last runs we tried a new engine, but honestly it is difficult to give the right comment because still we must fix the electronics.”