Alex Marquez tries two chassis options, suffers another crash

LRC Honda rider Alex Marquez suffered yet another crash on day three of MotoGP testing in Qatar, but also compared two different chassis options ahead of day four. 

It has not been the easiest of tests so far for the impressive 2019 rookie, as he finished day three in fifthteenth position, his worst of the three days. 

As the times have significantly improved since the opening day last Saturday, Marquez has gotten further away from the top times. However, there has been no time attack so far for Marquez, which should highlight some of the +1.7s deficit to Jack Miller.

While several crashes won't have helped, the former Moto2 champion in 2019 has been showing decent race pace. Marquez tried out a new chassis that was used by all other Honda riders last year, while also using the same one he competed with as a rookie.

"Well, the chassis was not a completely new one. There was one that all the Honda riders already had last year," said Marquez.

"I didn’t have the opportunity to try it, so we decided to try it here. Personally I will continue on the same I had last year, because I think for my riding style it’s a little better.

"It’s the one I was faster on today, especially in ten laps. Because of this, I chose this one. For my natural style it’s better. The other one is not too bad in all the areas, but my current package looks a little better for me."

With only two more days of testing to go before the season officially begins, Marquez was intent on finding the right solution in order to be best prepared going into the 2021 campaign. 

"The most important thing was to have a clear idea of what to work on for tomorrow and which one is better to start the season. These back to back tests that I did today, there was no time to do a time attack, but it was important to have this clear.

"I chose the one from last year (chassis) already so it will be the bike I’ll work (with) tomorrow and we will have two exactly (the same) bikes tomorrow, so I can start working on riding style, and also on trying to improve the set up.

"With that bike I did 10 laps in a row and the rhythm wasn’t bad. It’s true that in the fast lap times we are far but in pace we are not bad." 

A continued theme so far for Marquez and a few other riders including team-mate Takaki Nakagami, has been crashes at the Losail International Circuit. 

Marquez was asked about this and if it was a Honda issue. "No, I think just some crashes. It’s true Taka also had some crashes. but I think it’s just the general tendency of everybody," said Marquez.  

"I was just in the Clinica and Maverick was there. He had two crashes that he didn’t understand. It’s the tendency of everybody, here at the test, people have crashes.

"It’s not the way you imagine to start, honestly. But, you know, it will be the tendency also at the GP. So many days at the track and so many days on the limit and it’s so easy to make a mistake.

"Today for me personally it was a small mistake. I was slower and trying one thing. That one thing wasn’t working in a good way. So a little bit my mistake. On the limit for everything and it’s so easy to make a small mistake." 

Testing continues today with day four from 2pm-9pm.