Mugello Tests, Marquez returns with a P6
Marc Marquez finished the Mugello Tests in sixth position, a result that can satisfy him given his not exactly perfect physical condition and a feeling with the Scarperia track that never clicked even in the best years. The official Ducati Spaniard mainly worked on pace and riding sensations, after two surgeries on his foot and shoulder: as anticipated yesterday, it is the latter that worries him, although the fracture of the fifth metatarsal also advises caution with the right foot.
It is precisely the right shoulder that gave him mixed feedback. The most important aspect is that Marquez no longer feels the annoying numbness caused by the contact between the “misplaced” screw and the radial nerve. The world champion’s fatigue, however, is muscular, because the old nerve problems have weakened the arm.
Marquez’s words
“For me, the most important thing today was to try to understand how the radial nerve was working. It was very important not to feel any discomfort or numbness in the hands, fingers, and elbows. At the moment it is working well and I am very happy, because that was the main goal of the surgery. Obviously, when the nerves start to work normally, we will begin to work on other muscles, on the way of riding the bike. So I have another kind of pain, but step by step we will see if we can improve,” this was his comment after the Tests in front of journalists, including our correspondent Matteo Senatore. “Theoretically, I should get worse because I will be more tired. But for this reason today I was super calm in FP1 and the Tests, I pushed only one lap to try to get into Q2. At the moment I don’t feel confident enough to push. And, to be honest, I thought I would feel better on the bike: in right corners and direction changes, I lose a lot of time. For one lap I can manage, but over race distance, I am half a second slower than the best.”
Read more Fornaroli, two days of testing in Austin completed: “I am increasingly comfortable with the McLaren”
“At the moment I am not ready to fight even for the top-5, I have no goals for a flying lap or position, I just want to improve,” he added. “I don’t know what my 100% is. The most important thing is that mentally I am ready and I want to try to reach my top again. Because, if you are not mentally ready, it’s better to give up. I am ready and I will try: maybe I won’t make it, maybe I will, we will have the answer maybe in two months, or maybe in two weeks. But the most important thing is not feeling 80% or 60%, the point is to give 100% on that day and reach top form in the future, that will be the mentality.”
Read more Bezzecchi: “Difficulties in time attack, but we are fast”
