Marquez feared he wouldn’t be fit for final day of Sepang test

Marc Marquez has conceded he didn’t think he would be fit enough to ride on the final day of the Sepang MotoGP test after suffering an inflammation to his recently-operated left shoulder.

The Repsol Honda rider says he pushed too hard during the morning of the second test day at Sepang, targeting faster lap times on fresh Michelin tyres, which triggered an inflammation and restrained his charge in the afternoon.

The reigning MotoGP world champions admits it has been a battle physically and mentally to “keep calm” over his injury but after feeling fresher this morning he focused on rediscovering his feeling with the RC213V on the final day at Sepang.

“Yesterday I did a big mistake as I went out on the first runs too aggressive,” Marquez said. “It was the morning with the new tyres, I went out too aggressive and then I pushed too much with the shoulder.

“This morning I got up well and I just approached the test in another way, I approached it in a way to ride the bike and forget the lap time and forget the screen, forget everything, and just ride the bike.

“It was a good way because today I am very, very happy because I was feeling the bike and feeling free on the bike. Of course, there is still a feeling with less power but we will be good. Now it is time to relax for two or three days.”

Marquez says he’s struggled with having to restrain himself to avoid aggravating his shoulder by completing a total of 105 laps across the three-day test, compared to the 194 laps he produced at the same test 12 months ago, with his Repsol Honda squad carefully managing his track time.

“Mental is more difficult than physical because it is difficult to finish in the middle of the day every day and see the others are riding on the track when you are waiting or with the physio,” he said. “But it is like this so I need to keep calm.

“I had some discussions inside my team because I wanted to go out and they stopped me and then I wanted a new tyre and they stopped me. It is like this and I need to be smart and keep going like this.

“The long run was only six laps, but the pace was very good.”

A local curry with @motomatters, @pecinogp and @Scherazade02 to finish the Sepang test. Lots of discussion about lap times beyond one fast lap. Pace shown by Marquez on day three was a surprise. Race lap record is a 2m 0.6s.#SepangTest #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/0hvhUxj1bO

— Peter McLaren (@McLarenMotoGP) February 8, 2019

Marquez, who focused on electronic tweaks on Honda’s new MotoGP engine specification plus a new aerodynamic fairing, also played down six riders going underneath the unofficial lap record at Sepang on the final day of the test due to the ideal track temperatures and conditions with new tyres compared to normal race weekend situations.

“We have three or four riders that have extra pace than the others but the conditions we have today we don’t have during all the season,” he explained. “There was a lot of rubber on the track but it has given me confidence not to forgot how to ride the bike.

“This is important as the first day I was fast because I was fresh but then everyday it was more tiring which is normal but today I was able to ride in a good way so I am very happy.”