MotoGP Grand Prix of France 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Earns 3rd Win of Season
May 19, 2019
MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain takes a curve followed by Jack Miller of Australia, left, during the French Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Le Mans racetrack, in Le Mans, France, Sunday, May 19, 2019. (AP Photo/David Vincent)
Marc Marquez won his third race of the season on Sunday at the MotoGP Grand Prix of France at Le Mans.
The Spaniard topped the podium ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci.
The victory extended his lead in the riders' standings to eight points, while Dovizioso overtook Alex Rins into second after the Suzuki rider finished 10th.
As Marquez powered on unchallenged to victory, Dovizioso capitalised when Miller ran wide at T7.
The Italian then managed to hold off compatriot and Ducati team-mate Petrucci in a hard-fought battle for second.
MotoGP Grand Prix of France 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders
May 17, 2019
MotoGP rider Marc Marquez of Spain, left, leads the race during the Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Angel Nieto racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, Sunday, May 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Miguel Morenatti)
The fifth race of the MotoGP season sees the action move to France on Sunday, with champion Marc Marquez leading the world standings by one point.
Spanish compatriot Alex Rins is in superb form for Suzuki after winning his first MotoGP race at the Grand Prix of Americas in April, and he will expect to challenge at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans.
Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso have also started the season in good shape, with both chasing maximum points at the famous French track.
It wasn't so long ago that Marquez was the new kid on the block, but at the age of 26, the racing phenomenon has a fresh challenger.
Rins made his MotoGP debut in 2017 and is beginning to display his raw talent at the highest level.
LE MANS, FRANCE - MAY 16: (L-R) Alex Rins of Spain and Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team and Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team pose during the press conference pre-event during the MotoGp of France - Previews on May
Achieving five podiums last term indicated what the 23-year-old could achieve this season if Suzuki provided him with the ammunition, and it appears the Spaniard is now a genuine contender.
According to Oriol Puigdemont and Valentin Khorounzhiy of Autosport, Marquez said there is little pressure on Rins to deliver early victories and this has helped his progress:
"His [Rins'] strongest point is that he doesn't have pressure at the moment. For sure it will arrive. It's true. At the moment if he finishes second, he's very happy; he finishes first, it's amazing; he finishes third, also he's happy. Now he's another opponent for the championship, he's ready to fight for the championship and the bike is too. It's important for the championship to have more manufacturers fighting for the title."
Suzuki Ecstar's Spanish rider Alex Rins (L) celebrates his second position beside race winner Repsol Honda Team's Spanish rider Marc Marquez after the MotoGP race of the Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez - Angel Nieto circuit in Jerez de la Frontera on May
Marquez has won five world championships since 2013, and he desperately needs the pinch of a younger challenger nipping at his heels.
Rins appears happy with his bike, and the combination of man and machine has brought positivity to his team.
Per MotoGP's official Twitter account, the rider feels confident ahead of the forthcoming schedule:
“After the race in Jerez we tried a lot of new parts and it was very positive” 🎙️ - @Rins42
The already competitive Rins appears to have only gotten more confident with his machine after a positive test after Jerez! 👍#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/0CCi7bGjxz
The title race has quickly developed into a four-way tussle, with Italian duo Rossi and Dovizioso also vying for the top spots.
Dovizioso won the first race of the season in Qatar but has finished fourth in the last two events.
Rossi continues to further his legend, and the seven-time world champion appears as motivated as ever.
The 40-year-old made two of the first four podiums of the season, but his Yamaha might struggle to compete with Honda, Suzuki and Ducati as the season unfolds.
MotoGP Grand Prix of Spain 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Cruises to Another Win
May 5, 2019
Defending MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez shot into the lead in Turn 1 of the Grand Prix of Spain on Sunday and never looked back, cruising to his second win of the year.
The 26-year-old held off Alex Rins, who finished in second place, while Maverick Vinales took the final podium spot ahead of Andrea Dovizioso. Valentino Rossi rode a late surge to sixth place.
The win saw Marquez claim top spot in the standings, one point ahead of Rins and three of Dovizioso. Rossi is fourth, nine points behind the leader.
Franco Morbidelli was the only one who could follow the pace of the Spaniard early, while in the background, championship leader Dovizioso ran wide after a pass on Vinales, losing even more time. Ducati had the raw pace but struggled in the corners, and with Rins also getting involved in the battle, the gap between the top three and the rest of the pack grew steadily.
The Petronas Yamaha duo of Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo kept the pressure on leader Marquez in the early stages:
But the consistent 26-year-old soon started to pull out a lead, and Vinales made it a trio of Yamahas behind the leader. Further back, Rossi struggled to pass Jack Miller, greatly hurting his championship aspirations.
Quartararo got the pass for second place and seemed ready to hunt down the leader, only for him to drop out of the race shortly after. MotoGP writer Simon Patterson felt bad for the Frenchman:
What a heartbreak for him! Bike stopped in a straight line...
Rossi finally got the pass on Miller with seven laps to go, but he still had ground to make up on the chasing pack. He swiftly overtook Morbidelli and Cal Crutchlow to move into sixth place, salvaging a few extra points in the championship race.
Miller crashed out of a top-10 spot after a battle with Aleix Espargaro, but there was relatively little movement in the rest of the top 10. Dovizioso continued to hunt Vinales for the final podium spot heading into the final round, but he ran out of time to make a move stick.
The next race will be on May 19 at the Bugatti Circuit in France.
MotoGP Grand Prix of Spain 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders
May 3, 2019
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 14: Marc Marquez of Spain rounds the bend during the Finals at MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas on April 14, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Christian Pondella/Getty Images)
The young 2019 MotoGP season will continue on Sunday in Jerez, Spain, as defending world champion Marc Marquez looks to get back on track in the Spanish Grand Prix after his crash in America.
Marquez's crash in Austin saw him drop to fourth place in the overall standings, but he sits just nine points behind current leader Andrea Dovizioso. Valentino Rossi and Alex Rins are second and third, respectively.
Here is a look at the race schedule for the Spain Grand Prix, as well as live stream info.
Five-time MotoGP world champion Marquez started the season on fire with a second-placed finish in Qatar and a win in Argentina, putting the rest of the field on notice. He was riding well in Austin and seemed primed to add to his lead in the overall standings, until he crashed out and opened the door for Rins to get his first win of the season.
According to Marquez, a mechanical issue played a part in the crash, and the team has fixed the problem:
“The most important thing is that I understand with the team why I crashed” 🎙️ - @marcmarquez93
After the shock result in America, Marc refocused himself immediately and looked forward to the next event 💪#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/9qag9eJawt
The 26-year-old won last year's race in Jerez, a track that has historically not been one of his favourites, with just two wins so far. He pushed his bike hard last year, nearly sliding out of a turn at one point:
There's no denying his form―he has scored back-to-back pole positions and fastest laps in the past two races―or his talent, with his five world titles. If Marquez can avoid mistakes, he should be able to bounce back from his crash in Austin with a win on home soil.
Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati
Dovizioso leads the current standings by three points, courtesy of a win in Qatar, a third-place finish in Argentina and a fourth-place finish in the United States. The 33-year-old Italian is trending in the wrong direction, and he needs a strong result in Jerez to keep his momentum.
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 13: Adreea Dovizioso of Italy in the pits during the Qualifier at MotoGP Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas on April 13, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Christian Pondella/Getty Images)
Unfortunately, his history at the track is far from positive. Dovizioso has never won in Jerez in MotoGP or the junior levels below the top class. In last year's race, he was involved in a spectacular crash with Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedros, per Motorsport's David Gruz.
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha
The only rider in the top four of the standings without a win so far, Rossi has finished in second place in the last two races. Consistency has been the 40-year-old's biggest weapon so far, and he's done a fine job avoiding costly errors on his much improved Yamaha.
He has enjoyed some fantastic moments in Jerez, including this epic battle with Sete Gibernau in 2005:
One of the most dramatic finishes to a race in #MotoGP history! 🏁
The veteran's last win at the track came in 2016, and that was his first since 2009. Rossi has won just a single MotoGP race since the start of the 2017 season.
MotoGP Grand Prix of Americas 2019 Results: Alex Rins Secures 1st Career Win
Apr 14, 2019
AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 14: Alex Rins of Spain and Team Suzuki Ecstar comes into the pits after warm ups before the MotoGP at Circuit of The Americas on April 14, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
Alex Rins picked up the first victory of his MotoGP career on Sunday after taking the chequered flag ahead of Valentino Rossi at the 2019 Grand Prix of Americas:
The Suzuki rider snatched the lead off the Italian with four laps to go and managed to hold on for victory in Austin, Texas.
Rossi had looked set for his first win since June 2017 after world champion Marc Marquez crashed out with 12 laps remaining while leading by three seconds.
However, Rossi was forced to settle for second place with Jack Miller coming home in third for Ducati.
MotoGPreporter Simon Patterson shared the final result:
Marquez started to extend his lead at the front, withRossicoming under pressure from Crutchlowin the opening laps.
However, theRepsolHonda man crashed out on Turn 11, sliding off under braking and allowing Miller to move into third behind the leading duo.
Marquez then produced a big shock as he crashed out with 12 laps to go. The world champion, who had a perfect record in this race, was leading by three seconds when he slid out and could not restart his Honda:
Honda's problems then got even worse as team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was forced to retire with a mechanical problem.
Meanwhile,Rinsmoved into second place and in pursuit ofRossi, while Dovizioso's race was getting even better as he passed FrancoMorbidellifor fourth place.
Rinsmade his key move with four laps to go, diving down the inside ofRossito take the lead.
Rossitried to hit straight back but could not make it stick and then could not get close enough on the final lap for a late challenge.
Rinscould not hide his delight after finally earning his maidenMotoGP victory:
We think the celebrations will continue long into the night at @suzukimotogp! 👍
It was a good day for both Suzuki andYamaha, while Dovizioso's fourth-place finish means he takes top spot off Marquez in the world championship.
MotoGP Grand Prix of Americas 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders
Apr 12, 2019
The 2019 MotoGP season continues this weekend with the Grand Prix of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
The race is the third of the year, following the Grands Prix in Qatar and Argentina, so the championship remains wide open at this stage.
Defending champion Marc Marquez, who has won five of the last six riders' championships, is already atop the standings after his win last time out, though, and the field will be eager to prevent him from extending his early lead.
Race Schedule
Friday, April 12
Free Practice 1: 3:55 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. BST/10:55 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. ET
Free Practice 2: 8:10 p.m. to 8:55 p.m. BST/3:10 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 13
Free Practice 3: 3:55 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. BST/10:55 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. ET
Free Practice 4: 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. BST/2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET
Q1: 8:10 p.m. to 8:25 p.m. BST/3:10 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. ET
Q2: 8:35 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. BST/3:35 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. ET
Sunday, April 14
Warm-Up: 15:40 p.m. to 4 p.m. BST/10:40 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET
We're only two races into the new season, and only one rider is within 14 points of Marquez.
Having finished second in the opening Grand Prix of the campaign, he went one better last time out.
The 26-year-old topped the standings in impressive style in Argentina:
We need to talk about Marc Márquez:
- Took pole position, won the race, led every lap and had the fastest lap - 21st time in MotoGP he’s got the race, pole and fastest lap treble - 45th MotoGP win - 14 sub 1"40 laps
He'll take some stopping in Texas, too. Marquez is unbeaten in the Grand Prix of The Americas, having won it every year since it was first held in 2013.
Another victory on Sunday would stretch his lead at the top of the standings to at least nine points.
While that's hardly unassailable at this stage given there will still be 16 more races to come, it will be an ominous sign for those hoping to see a competitive battle for the championship this year.
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha
After finishing fifth in Qatar, Rossi earned his first podium of the season in Argentina when he took second place.
He did so in dramatic fashion, taking it off compatriot Andrea Dovizioso in the final lap:
Rossi has never won the Grand Prix of The Americas, but he has finished twice on the podium in 2015 and 2017.
While it's difficult to imagine anyone other than Marquez taking the chequered flag, another podium finish for Rossi would help him remain in touching distance of the Spaniard.
MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina 2019 Results: Marc Marquez Dominates Field in Win
Mar 31, 2019
Spain's biker Marc Marquez rides his Honda during the warm-up of the MotoGP of the Argentina Grand Prix at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on March 31, 2019. (Photo by Juan MABROMATA / AFP) (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)
Marc Marquezrode to a flag-to-flag victory in the 2019 MotoGP Argentina Grand Prix on Sunday. The Hondarider finished ahead of Yamaha Valentino Rossiby a huge marginat the Autodromo de Termas de Rio Hondo.
Defending champion Marquez has moved ahead of Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, who settled for third, in the standings after two races.
Marquez made the most of the pole to blitz the first lap and open a worrying gap over the chasing pack. Those further back were already embroiled in an intense scrap to stay in touch:
Rossikept the pressure on, but he also had Qatar GrandPrixwinnerDoviziosofor company. Further back, 2018 race winner CalCrutchlowwas hit with an early ride-through penalty for an apparent jump start.
The infraction added up to a loss of 25 seconds for the Honda man as he was quickly targeted by those determined to at least keep Marquez in their sights.
FrancoMorbidelli, a rider revitalised on the Yamaha bike, was among those making his presence felt early on:
The chasers needed to pile the pressure on Marquez, who had an advantage of almost five seconds after six laps. It was up to 6.5 seconds with 16 laps to go, as the real race was taking place behind an imperious Marquez, who was adding to his advantage with every lap.
Scrapping for second brought the best out of bothRossiandDovizioso, with both riders ready to punish even the slightest error:
Unfortunately, a final-lap crash betweenVinalesandMorbidellisent both out of the race.
There was still time forRossito make a typically late surge to pipDoviziosoto second. The "Doctor" timed his strong move superbly to denyDovizioso at least a share of top spot in the championship standings.
Instead, Marquez already has the summit position to himself, an ominous sign for the rest.
MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders
Mar 29, 2019
Spain's Marc Marquez (L) of Honda rides ahead of Italy's Valentino Rossi of Yamaha during the MotoGP race of the Argentina Grand Prix at Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on April 3, 2016. AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA / AFP / JUAN MABROMATA (Photo credit should read JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images)
Andrea Dovizioso will look to build on his controversial win at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix when he rides in the 2019 Moto GP Grand Prix of Argentina on Sunday.
The Ducati star will be expected to produce another strong showing on a bike that has prompted complaints from rival manufacturers, but he could still find himself overshadowed by champion Marc Marquez and veteran rival Valentino Rossi.
Last year's race was dominated by the tussle between the pair as Marquez and Rossi clashed on track at the Autodoromo de Termas de Rio Hondo. A late surge from the Spaniard saw the 40-year-old dislodged from his bike, an incident the Italian hasn't forgotten.
Full Race Schedule
Friday
Free Practice 1
Time: 1:50 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. GMT/9:50 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. ET
Free Practice 2
Time: 6:05 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. GMT/2:05 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. ET
Saturday
Free Practice 3
Time: 1:50 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. GMT/9:50 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. ET
Free Practice 4
Time: 5:25 p.m. to 5:55 p.m. GMT/1:25 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. ET
Qualifying 1
Time: 6:05 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. GMT/2:05 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. ET
Qualifying 2
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. ET
Race
Date: Sunday, March 31
Warm-Ups: 2:40 p.m. to 3 p.m. BST/9:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET
Dovizioso needed the win in Qatar confirmed by the MotoGP Court of Appeal after complaints were made about Ducati using a device to cool the tyres.
DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 10: Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team celebrates with flag the victory at the end of the MotoGP race during the MotoGP of Qatar - Race at Losail Circuit on March 10, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Imag
The disputed part has been ruled legal, according to Crash.Net's Peter McLaren, who noted how teams including Honda and Suzuki felt the cooling device helped "provide an 'illegal' aerodynamic effect (in this case downforce)."
A favourable ruling means Dovizioso remains the early the leader in the standings by virtue of finishing a mere "0.023s" ahead of Marquez on March 10.
The Spaniard will need to avoid being distracted by the inevitable references to the events of 2018. Marquez apologised for knocking Rossi off his bike when overtaking him, an attempt at contrition the Yamaha rider rejected.
VALENCIA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 15: Valentino Rossi of Italy and Movistar Yamaha MotoGP smiles (L) and Marc Marquez of Spain and Repsol Honda Team looks on during the press conference pre-event during the MotoGP Of Valencia - Previews at Ricardo Tormo Circui
Even so, it's telling how the champion has been striking a less combative tone ahead of this year's race. He praised Rossi for maintaining his will to win into a fourth decade, per MCN Sport (h/t Alex Wood of the Daily Star):
"It's amazing what he's doing. Because you can get to 40 years old and still have the motivation to ride a bike, but to get to 40 with the motivation and the ability to still be one of the favourites is something else. It's amazing and I'd love to get to the same age and still have the motivation he does."
Frankly, it would be a surprise if those words thaw the ice sufficiently between the competitive pair ahead of the qualifying sessions and the race proper.
Marquez has owned the title in each of the last five years, but Rossi still has the pedigree of having won the top prize seven times. The veteran would love nothing more than to get one over on the younger man chasing his achievements.
Repsol Honda's Spanish rider Marc Marquez rides during the Qatar MotoGP grand prix at the Losail track in Qatar's capital Doha on March 10, 2019. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
The residue of animosity between the best of the sport's past and the dominant force of its present will make for another intense race in Argentina.
Add in the intrigue created by the accusations of Ducati's souped-up capabilities, and this promises to be even more memorable than last year's Grand Prix.
MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar 2019 Results: Andrea Dovizioso Wins Season Opener
Mar 10, 2019
Mission Winnow Ducati's Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso (R) rides during the Qatar MotoGP grand prix at the Losail track in Qatar's capital Doha on March 10, 2019. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
Andrea Dovizioso won the first MotoGP race of the season on Sunday, as he took the chequered flag ahead of defending world champion Marc Marquez and Cal Crutchlow on Sunday at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Ducati rider led for the majority of the 22 laps in an exciting race under the floodlights at the Losail International Circuit.
A tightly contested season opener saw five riders in contention for the win heading into the final lap, with Dovizioso and Marquez tussling for victory and the Italian just coming out on top.
There was plenty of excitement at the start of the race. Doviziosoled Jack Miller into the first turn, while pole-sitter MaverickVinaleswas forced wide by Marquez and slipped down to sixth:
Meanwhile, FabioQuartararoon hisMotoGPdebut suffered a nightmare start. The 19-year-old qualified in fifth but had to start from the pit lane after stalling on the line.
Miller also suffered an early problem. He had to throw away a piece of his seat which dropped him from second down to 11th:
Technical problem for @jackmilleraus... just ripped the seat unit off the bike! #QatarGP
WhileDoviziosocontinued to lead the race, it was Quartararo who caught the eye. The youngster may have been in last place after starting from the pit lane but was the fastest man on the track early on:
At the front, AlexRinsandDoviziosotraded places, while DaniloPetrucciwent past Marquez into third place, with rookie Joan Mir impressing in fourth approaching the halfway point.
The first casualty of the race was FrancescoBagnaia, who dropped out with what looked like a mechanical problem:
Looks like a gearbox failure for Bagnaia - went down the box and didn't slow down. Into the pits now #QatarGP
Meanwhile, Dovizioso's conservative pace up front made for a leading pack consisting of eight riders heading into the final five laps to set up a thrilling finish.
Doviziosoupped the pace in the closing stages but could not shake off Marquez,CrutchlowandRins, although the Suzuki rider slipped out of contention after running wide into the first turn with just three laps to go.
Marquez hit the front with two laps left after passing Doviziosounder braking, but the Italian powered past the world champion on the home straight going into the final lap.
A exhilarating last lap saw the two rivals fighting for top spot, with Dovizioso retaking the lead on the final corner to clinch the first victory of the new seasonby just 0.023 seconds:
It was a superb start to the newMotoGPyear with Dovizioso picking up his second win in Qatar, while Crutchlowalso deserves credit for his third-place finish on his comeback after serious injury.
The next race on the calendar is the Argentina GrandPrixat theTermasdeRioHondoCircuit on March 13.
MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar 2019: Race Schedule, Live Stream and Top Riders
Mar 8, 2019
DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 01: Alex Marquez of Spain and EG 0,0 Marc VDS rounds the bend during Moto2 & Moto3 Tests - Day One at Losail Circuit on March 01, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
Marc Marquez will begin the defense of his MotoGP title at the 2019 Grand Prix of Qatar at the Losail International Circuit on Sunday.
Marquez faces familiar competition from names such as Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizioso. It was the latter who finished ahead of Honda rider Marquez in last year's race.
Race Schedule
Friday, March 8
Free Practice 1: 12:40 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. GMT/7:40 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. ET
Free Practice 2: 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. GMT/12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. ET
Saturday, March 9
Free Practice 3: 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. GMT/7:15 a.m. to 8 a.m. ET
Free Practice 4: 4:20 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. GMT/11:20 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. ET
Q1: 5 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. GMT/12 p.m. to 12:15 p.m. ET
Q2: 5:25 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. GMT/12:25 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 10
Warm-Up: 12:40 p.m. to 1 p.m. GMT/7:40 a.m. to 8 a.m. ET
The spotlight will naturally be on Marquez, with few able to keep pace with the six-time champion. Even so, the Spaniard may not be at his best following shoulder surgery he underwent back in December.
While surgery was successful, the 26-year-old revealed the procedure was "more aggressive and more difficult" than he expected. Marquez has since admitted he is "almost 100 percent" ahead of the first race on the season's calendar, per Haydn Cobb of Crash.net.
It takes more than skill to be a 7x World Champion at 26-years-old...
You need to have that drive to be the best and never give up 👊
Marc Márquez sprints back to the pits in 2015 after his bike failed on him. He had one lap to put it on pole. He obliterated the field 😳 pic.twitter.com/xntzWXrnar
However, the obvious boost for Marquez comes from Honda signing Jorge Lorenzo as his new team-mate. Lorenzo won the last of his three titles in 2015, the only interruption to Marquez's recent dominance.
Any signs of weakness from Marquez are sure to be exploited by his talented and experienced rivals. Dovizioso already knows what it takes to beat the Spaniard, and the Ducati veteran sounds confident ahead of the weekend.
The 32-year-old Italian revealed how he has prepared for the new season, per GPOne.com: "I've also made some important changes to my training and dietary regimes."
Marquez pushed Dovizioso all the way in 2018, but the Ducati rider can hold his nerve as well as any rider in close races.
DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 07: Andrea Dovizioso of Italy and Ducati Team loks on during press conference pre-event during MotoGP of Qatar - Previews at Losail Circuit on March 07, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images)
Speaking of experience, not many competitors can match 40-year-old Rossi's know-how. The question for the seven-time champion is whether his bike will be up to scratch to help put an end to the relentless pursuit of his record Marquez has undertaken in recent years.
Rossi thinks Yamaha is headed in the right direction, according to Crash.Net's Peter McLaren. As McLaren noted, Rossi, who was third on the podium in 2018, didn't manage a single win last season, and race speed this weekend will go a long way to determining the extent of the improvements his team has made.
While the regular contenders appear strong, Marquez is still the man to beat. However, the concerns about his fitness are reason enough to believe he will begin his campaign just short of the top spot, with Dovizioso likely to repeat his heroics from 12 months ago.
