Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez closed the gap on Maverick Vinales to a quarter of a second on the final day’s testing at Phillip Island and critically found a direction which has reduced the problems he was having with the RC213V motor.
The 2017 unit is less aggressive than its predecessors but Marquez is still struggling with spin on corner exit. But in the absence of crew chief Santi Hernandez, the team have found some answers.
“We found a small road, a small way. Every day I was telling the same, we are missing something on the electronics, on the engine. But today, especially in the afternoon, we improved quite a lot,” said Marquez, speaking at the track.
“In the morning we did a big change and we spent a lot of time to try big things. But then in the afternoon we concentrated more on our base and tried to work on these problems. Nearly every exit the lap time was coming better and better because I felt better on the bike.
“It looks like they start to understand what I want with this engine. It’s still not what I want, but it’s getting better and better.”