Marc Marquez warns Jerez MotoGP podium “optimistic”, “I don’t have the potential to attack”

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Marc Marquez warns Jerez MotoGP podium “optimistic”, “I don’t have the potential to attack”

Marc Marquez describes a home Spanish MotoGP podium as “optimistic” after Friday practice at Jerez.

Marc Marquez, 2026 Spanish MotoGP.
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Marc Marquez described his opening day at the Spanish MotoGP as “acceptable”, after securing a direct place in Qualifying 2 with fifth position.

The reigning world champion also confirmed that his shoulder was in better shape after the near month-long break since COTA.

But performance-wise, Marquez warned that a home podium currently looks “optimistic”.

“It was an acceptable day, not good or terrible,” GPone.com quotes Marquez as saying. “But we achieved our main objective, because we’re in Q2.  

“It wasn’t a given, and we’ll have to keep working if we want to improve and try to fight for the podium.

“We’re not close at the moment, so we need to improve, and qualifying tomorrow will be crucial.

“In terms of pace and fastest lap, we’re between 4th and 6th. Qualifying tomorrow will tell us what we can do in the race.”

Marc was left 0.523s behind his brother and fellow Ducati GP26 rider Alex.

“The reference at the moment is Alex, both in terms of single-lap performance and race pace,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marc is losing out in sectors two and four. 

“The feeling today was not good.”

He concluded: “I don’t have the potential to attack. At the moment, I have the potential to survive!

“Let’s see if tomorrow we can improve. But the target will be try to be in the podium. And an optimistic target.

“At the moment, we are not even in the podium.”

Marquez’s team-mate Pecco Bagnaia was sixth quickest as Ducati and Aprilia riders filled nine of the top ten places.

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Marc Marquez
Ducati Lenovo Team
Ducati

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Marc Marquez describes a home Spanish MotoGP podium as “optimistic” after Friday practice at Jerez.

Marc Marquez described his opening day at the Spanish MotoGP as “acceptable”, after securing a direct place in Qualifying 2 with fifth position.

The reigning world champion also confirmed that his shoulder was in better shape after the near month-long break since COTA.

But performance-wise, Marquez warned that a home podium currently looks “optimistic”.

“It was an acceptable day, not good or terrible,” GPone.com quotes Marquez as saying. “But we achieved our main objective, because we’re in Q2.  

“It wasn’t a given, and we’ll have to keep working if we want to improve and try to fight for the podium.

“We’re not close at the moment, so we need to improve, and qualifying tomorrow will be crucial.

“In terms of pace and fastest lap, we’re between 4th and 6th. Qualifying tomorrow will tell us what we can do in the race.”

Marc was left 0.523s behind his brother and fellow Ducati GP26 rider Alex.

“The reference at the moment is Alex, both in terms of single-lap performance and race pace,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marc is losing out in sectors two and four. 

“The feeling today was not good.”

He concluded: “I don’t have the potential to attack. At the moment, I have the potential to survive!

“Let’s see if tomorrow we can improve. But the target will be try to be in the podium. And an optimistic target.

“At the moment, we are not even in the podium.”

Marquez’s team-mate Pecco Bagnaia was sixth quickest as Ducati and Aprilia riders filled nine of the top ten places.

Marc Marquez described his opening day at the Spanish MotoGP as “acceptable”, after securing a direct place in Qualifying 2 with fifth position.

The reigning world champion also confirmed that his shoulder was in better shape after the near month-long break since COTA.

But performance-wise, Marquez warned that a home podium currently looks “optimistic”.

“It was an acceptable day, not good or terrible,” GPone.com quotes Marquez as saying. “But we achieved our main objective, because we’re in Q2.  

“It wasn’t a given, and we’ll have to keep working if we want to improve and try to fight for the podium.

“We’re not close at the moment, so we need to improve, and qualifying tomorrow will be crucial.

“In terms of pace and fastest lap, we’re between 4th and 6th. Qualifying tomorrow will tell us what we can do in the race.”

Marc was left 0.523s behind his brother and fellow Ducati GP26 rider Alex.

“The reference at the moment is Alex, both in terms of single-lap performance and race pace,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marc is losing out in sectors two and four. 

“The feeling today was not good.”

He concluded: “I don’t have the potential to attack. At the moment, I have the potential to survive!

“Let’s see if tomorrow we can improve. But the target will be try to be in the podium. And an optimistic target.

“At the moment, we are not even in the podium.”

Marquez’s team-mate Pecco Bagnaia was sixth quickest as Ducati and Aprilia riders filled nine of the top ten places.

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2026-04-28 20:26:41

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