Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez found himself on the pace and close to the top of the timesheets for the first time in 2016 after a big step with the new unified software saw the former champion able to lap faster than both Yamahas at Phillip Island.
Marquez was second only to Maverick Vinales on the second day of testing in Australia and puts his pace down to the electronics progress but says his biggest issue at the Australian track is now chassis setup and not the aggressive nature of the engine.
“I know that the level is there and that we are working hard. We did a big step with the electronics. I mean, now we have a base that we can start to work from because in Malaysia we are completely lost. Honda did a good job but still we must work hard. The thing is this circuit is special,” said Marquez, speaking at the track.
“When I say that, I mean we must take care because here there are third, fourth gear corners, high speed. Last year we didn’t have problems at this circuit and we must take care in all these things because maybe we will arrive in Qatar and what we are trying here will not work. You can see in the results there are many riders in front, tight lap times and we must to understand well.
“At the moment maybe the biggest problem is the balance of the chassis of the set-up. Still with the Michelins they change a lot compared to the Bridgestone. We are trying to adjust this. With the engine here it looks OK but it’s what I say. We have the problems in the tight corners [which need] big acceleration like Malaysia, last turn, or turn 14. Here we don’t have those corners. It looks like it’s working well. Also the Suzuki with Viñales. It’s a very light bike and he is really quick in the change of direction. These kind of changes of directions are not there on the other circuits. We have to analyse everything.”
