Álex Márquez was the sixth fastest rider on the first day of testing at the Cheste track. The Gresini rider was satisfied with the performance of the GP23, the machine that Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín rode in the just ended World Championship.
‘We didn’t have the best conditions to do 56 laps, but we were able to draw some positive conclusions, we improved our set-up a little compared to last weekend, when we had some problems and I didn’t feel well. The first contact with the GP23 was positive. There are some positive things and others where we’ll have to improve, but overall I’m satisfied. Above all, I’ve improved my feeelings, it’s not a revolution, it’s an evolution compared to 2022’ said the spanish rider, quoted by the daily Marca, who finished the session ahead of his brother and new teammate Marc Márquez.
And added: ‘I wasn’t expecting it. That wasn’t my objective. I know he’s always fast here in Valencia. Marc is taking the same step as I did last year, I know what he’s going to say, we don’t need to keep secrets from each other any more, we can share things and it’s a good thing, but we’ll do it in private. When they announced Marc’s hiring, I said that he would help raise the level of the team and I need to capitalise on that. Personally, I have a really good opportunity to grow as a rider. I can’t make too many bets with him, otherwise he’ll send me home’.