The double MotoGP podium finisher was the one Honda rider to get the tough RC213V to a rostrum in his rookie yr in 2020 when he was with the manufacturing unit squad, however struggled to copy this with LCR in 2021 and 2022.

With simply two prime eight finishes to his credit score in 2022 on the Honda, Marquez elected to maneuver to the Gresini Ducati squad for 2023 and felt “instantly at house” on the bike in final November’s one-day Valencia take a look at.

Ending February’s Sepang take a look at ninth total forward of all Honda riders, Marquez says his time at Honda made him typically query that he “possibly forgot the way to trip a motorcycle”.

“In fact,” Marquez replied when requested if he doubted himself over the last two years at Honda.

“Sure, I had some query marks however I by no means doubted that I will be quick.

“However in some moments, you are feeling like ‘okay, possibly I forgot the way to trip a motorcycle’.

“It was actually powerful moments, however I believe these powerful moments will assist me sooner or later to be stronger and be a greater rider.”

Alex Marquez endured some powerful occasions at LCR Honda

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs

Honda’s Sepang take a look at revealed that the 2023 bike remains to be removed from aggressive, with Marquez saying it’s “not a shock” to see his former producer the place it at present is within the pecking order.

“Yeah, I imply, to see them the place they’re shouldn’t be a shock as a result of I do know kind of what’s going on,” he stated of ending forward of Honda on the take a look at.

“It’s not a degree that you could change [quickly]. They may want time.

“They go on with new folks and all this, however the brand new folks can not change issues like this. They want time, but it surely’s higher to be in entrance of them!”

Ducati fields eight bikes at present in MotoGP, and although Marquez isn’t on a manufacturing unit contract or using full works equipment in 2023 (he’ll race the title-winning 2022 bundle) he notes that the Italian marque nonetheless works carefully with him and Gresini.

“It’s good,” Marquez stated of Ducati’s working technique.

“I imply, they’ve all of the riders in consideration, and that is good.

“They hearken to you and offer you quite a lot of suggestions. For me, I’m new and it’s the primary actual take a look at that I do with this bike, it’s actually vital to have the information and ideas that in addition they have for the technical aspect.

“They handed by all of the packing containers day by day [at the test] and took notes. So, it’s one other mentality of working.”

A key criticism Marquez had about Honda final yr was that he didn’t really feel HRC valued his suggestions typically when it got here to bike improvement.