The eight-time grand prix world champion ended Friday’s dry FP1 fourth fastest on the Gresini Ducati and topped the rain-hit FP2.
Marquez enjoyed a strong pre-season on the 2023-spec Ducati but has repeatedly tempered expectations, doing so again after Friday’s Qatar running.
While noting that he is feeling stronger all the time on the Ducati, he’s still not at the level he needs to be in order to fight for race wins.
He also noted that with FP1 in Qatar being an unrepresentative session and FP2 being wet, it made Friday a “fake day” - and feels more riders are still to show their speed.
“Every day I feel more ready,” Marquez said of his adaptation to the Ducati. “Not enough still, but it’s true that in Qatar it’s a circuit that I won at only one time [in 2014].
“So, it means it’s one of the circuits I've struggled more at in my career.
“So, even like this I’m not far, not very far from the top guys. But I want to see tomorrow.
“Today was a bit of a fake day. FP1, for example, [Francesco] Bagnaia wasn’t pushing, a lot of riders weren’t pushing 100%.
“On wet conditions also it’s strange. Tomorrow we will see a bit where we are.”
Source: Autosport