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Jerez predicted to give “a better signal” of Honda’s MotoGP level
Luca Marini warns that the “level has increased so much” in MotoGP this season, expects Jerez to provide a “better signal” of Honda’s position.
Luca Marini heads into this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP as the top Honda rider in the world championship standings.
However, the Italian sits only tenth overall, despite his strongest weekend of the season at COTA.
Marini secured Honda’s best result so far with fifth in the Sprint, before passing Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia on the final lap to finish ninth in the grand prix.
Even so, he trailed three Aprilias, three Ducatis and two KTMs, crossing the line 14.471 seconds behind race winner Marco Bezzecchi.
“It was a race that shows that the level of everybody has increased so much,” Marini said at COTA.
“This year, the first eight bikes are working really well and it’s difficult to be there.
“We are pushing in every corner, every braking at the limit for all the race because also the tyres are working very well.
“It’s tough. We are not so happy that we are still P9. We want something more, but we need to improve more our package.
“Let’s see what we can have in the Jerez [post-race] test to be a little bit more in front.”
Looking ahead to Jerez this weekend, Marini expects a more accurate gauge of Honda’s performance.
“Jerez is a circuit that everyone knows really well, and I think it will be a better signal of where we are compared to the other bikes,” he said.
“Like always, getting into Q2 is our first focus of the weekend and then we will see what’s possible on Saturday and Sunday.”
On the other side of the garage, team-mate Joan Mir will be aiming to end a nightmare run of five consecutive non-scores since Buriram.
“Jerez is a good circuit to understand many things, and I hope that we can have the same speed we’ve had in the opening races,” said Mir, who qualified fifth at COTA.
“Our approach doesn’t change; I know that we can be competitive and I will always keep giving my maximum to extract the most from the bike and the situation.
“It will also be interesting to see what the Monday test brings as well. A busy weekend to get back into the groove.”
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Luca Marini warns that the “level has increased so much” in MotoGP this season, expects Jerez to provide a “better signal” of Honda’s position.
Luca Marini heads into this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP as the top Honda rider in the world championship standings.
However, the Italian sits only tenth overall, despite his strongest weekend of the season at COTA.
Marini secured Honda’s best result so far with fifth in the Sprint, before passing Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia on the final lap to finish ninth in the grand prix.
Even so, he trailed three Aprilias, three Ducatis and two KTMs, crossing the line 14.471 seconds behind race winner Marco Bezzecchi.
“It was a race that shows that the level of everybody has increased so much,” Marini said at COTA.
“This year, the first eight bikes are working really well and it’s difficult to be there.
“We are pushing in every corner, every braking at the limit for all the race because also the tyres are working very well.
“It’s tough. We are not so happy that we are still P9. We want something more, but we need to improve more our package.
“Let’s see what we can have in the Jerez [post-race] test to be a little bit more in front.”
Looking ahead to Jerez this weekend, Marini expects a more accurate gauge of Honda’s performance.
“Jerez is a circuit that everyone knows really well, and I think it will be a better signal of where we are compared to the other bikes,” he said.
“Like always, getting into Q2 is our first focus of the weekend and then we will see what’s possible on Saturday and Sunday.”
On the other side of the garage, team-mate Joan Mir will be aiming to end a nightmare run of five consecutive non-scores since Buriram.
“Jerez is a good circuit to understand many things, and I hope that we can have the same speed we’ve had in the opening races,” said Mir, who qualified fifth at COTA.
“Our approach doesn’t change; I know that we can be competitive and I will always keep giving my maximum to extract the most from the bike and the situation.
“It will also be interesting to see what the Monday test brings as well. A busy weekend to get back into the groove.”
Luca Marini heads into this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP as the top Honda rider in the world championship standings.
However, the Italian sits only tenth overall, despite his strongest weekend of the season at COTA.
Marini secured Honda’s best result so far with fifth in the Sprint, before passing Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia on the final lap to finish ninth in the grand prix.
Even so, he trailed three Aprilias, three Ducatis and two KTMs, crossing the line 14.471 seconds behind race winner Marco Bezzecchi.
“It was a race that shows that the level of everybody has increased so much,” Marini said at COTA.
“This year, the first eight bikes are working really well and it’s difficult to be there.
“We are pushing in every corner, every braking at the limit for all the race because also the tyres are working very well.
“It’s tough. We are not so happy that we are still P9. We want something more, but we need to improve more our package.
“Let’s see what we can have in the Jerez [post-race] test to be a little bit more in front.”
Looking ahead to Jerez this weekend, Marini expects a more accurate gauge of Honda’s performance.
“Jerez is a circuit that everyone knows really well, and I think it will be a better signal of where we are compared to the other bikes,” he said.
“Like always, getting into Q2 is our first focus of the weekend and then we will see what’s possible on Saturday and Sunday.”
On the other side of the garage, team-mate Joan Mir will be aiming to end a nightmare run of five consecutive non-scores since Buriram.
“Jerez is a good circuit to understand many things, and I hope that we can have the same speed we’ve had in the opening races,” said Mir, who qualified fifth at COTA.
“Our approach doesn’t change; I know that we can be competitive and I will always keep giving my maximum to extract the most from the bike and the situation.
“It will also be interesting to see what the Monday test brings as well. A busy weekend to get back into the groove.”
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