Repsol Honda new-boy Pol Espargaro is desperate for MotoGP team-mate Marc Marquez to return so he can learn as much about the RC213V as possible.

The Spaniard, who moved from KTM to HRC over the winter, is on a steep learning curve at the Qatar test this week but will not have Marquez to compare notes with.

However, he will be able to compare and contrast with test rider Stefan Bradl, who has turned laps on the new bike, plus LCR’s Alex Marquez and Taka Nakagami.,

“I’m going to arrive to Qatar a little bit earlier, three days before the test, and there I’m going to set up with all the engineers,” said Espargaro.

“And I’m going to see every single corner of the track, try to analyse every bit of data I have in my mind.

“This past month I’ve been thinking different situations where, for example, Marc has been saving those crashes which in the end give him a lot of points. If he would not have saved those crashes maybe he would not win those races.

“So, this is my question: how was Marc doing that? And it seems in these past years that is a part of the Honda DNA.

I need to manage that situation. In KTM I was sometimes doing that, but I need to learn even more how to do that, and the pressure is going to be high without Marc.

“For sure we have the satellite team, and they are also going to have factory bikes with Alex and Taka.

“They are very, very fast riders together with Bradl, who has been doing many laps in the pre-season and he’s going to be in the test in Qatar.

“So, for sure I’m going to learn a lot from him. Then let’s see when Marc arrives in the team.

“Hopefully it’s going to be as soon as possible, but what is sure is we need Marc because he is the number one of the team and he’s the fastest with the bike and I really want to learn from him.

“The faster he comes back the more I’m going to learn from his side and the faster I’ll improve.

“So, the way I’m going to improve is to learn from the best rider in the world and he’s the one.”