The Honda rider has been absent since fracturing his hand on the third lap of the Portuguese GP at the start of the season in March, but is back in action at Le Mans for the 1000th grand prix event.
After progressing directly into Q2 on Friday, having spent the day testing Honda’s new Kalex-designed chassis, Marquez had both of his bikes fitted with the new frame for Saturday’s action.
Setting the best lap of the Q2 session with a 1m30.763s on his final lap, Marquez was denied by Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia at the death with a 1m30.705s.
Marquez, who expects this afternoon’s sprint contest to be difficult because he is missing race pace and says “still I get a bit tired” on the bike, remarked that second on the grid was a surprise but is starting to feel better on the RC213V.
“Of course yesterday I was fast but I didn’t feel the bike,” he said in parc ferme after qualifying.
“Today I started to feel the bike, even this morning with the same bike we made a step.
“It looks like a different bike, but it’s more the [riding] position, my feeling with the tyres, and it’s true that for the race distance we will struggle a bit more because still I need that pace, still I get a bit tired on the bike.
“But the target of this weekend is try to do our 100%. We didn’t expect to be here, honestly speaking. But with my team, me, Honda, you never know what can happen.
Source: Autosport