Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez has admitted he is struggling a lot more with his injured shoulder at Qatar than he did in Malaysia as the longer corners are proving troublesome.
The Repsol Honda rider, who has just signed an unprecedented four-year deal with HRC, has nerve damage in the joint and the two weeks between tests is nothing in neurological terms.
“Today we started here in a good way more or less, but it’s true that in this circuit I’m struggling a bit more than in Malaysia,” said the title holder.
“In Malaysia it was a different riding style, and here with the long right corners I’m struggling a little bit more. Honestly speaking I have one nerve damaged and one nerve in two weeks is no difference.
“It’s true that the other part of the body is stronger and the other muscles, I tried to work very hard to be stronger and have more power.But especially that muscle is on the same situation.
It’s true that I arrive in a better way of physical condition, but this circuit, I’m struggling a little bit more because these long right corners are stressing a lot the shoulder.
“Of course, if you have an easier bike to turn it will be easier for the physical condition. We know that Honda is one of the bikes that is more demanding on physical condition."
Qatar has never been an easy circuit for the RC213V, even with Marquez on board, but an opening day best of 1'54.823 is not to be dismissed.
“Here in this circuit we are one more year with all the weak points of the bike and the riding style; all these long corners are our weak points.
“But last year we started more or less in a similar situation and step by step we got closer and closer.
"So, this is the way: try to work, try to find a special set-up here in Qatar and try to be closer to the top guys.”
