Marc Marquez seems like a rider reborn in 2024. The eight-time World Champion just secured his third Sunday podium on the trot, has collected four Tissot Sprint top three finishes an sits third in the Championship only 41 points behind Jorge Martin (Prima Pramarc Racing). In both the French and Catalan Grands Prix, the Gresini rider fought back from the fifth row to get himself onto the box during both weekends in hugely impressive performances.
While the eight-time World Champion hasn’t yet reached the heights of his title-winning days, this season marks the first time since his horrific injury in 2020 that we’ve seen him competitive at every round. However, despite strong results and his position in the Championship, Marquez feels he isn’t a Championship contender. Why?
“Qualifying!”
Both Marquez and his Crew Chief Frankie Carchedi have pinpointed his pre-race form as the #93’s major weakness this season. Since joining Ducati’s ranks, Marquez has placed P6, P8, P3, P1, P13 and P14 on the grid. After securing pole in Jerez, he has failed to make it into Q2 in either of the following two rounds. Carchedi took to social media to explain the sudden downturn in qualifying form, stating that trying to balance a race simulation in Practice and a strong time attack with a lack of data is no easy task.
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