Marc Marquez isn't optimistic: We can fight for fifth to 10th, I believe



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Marc Marquez isn't optimistic: We can fight for fifth to 10th, I believe

Marc Marquez is not satisfied with pre-season testing, given that Honda did not meet expectations. The Spaniard is disappointed and believes that his team cannot fight for the very top. “Unfortunately, some of the things that Honda expected would work on track was not working like we expected,” Marquez said, as quoted by motorsport.com "And then I was riding the same bike today as we finished with in Malaysia.

It’s true that we changed the set-up a bit, my team organised a good plan and we did a few steps and I was feeling better and better. I was able to work on the rhythm, because when you try different things every run it’s more difficult." Marquez believes that if the race were held tomorrow, his team would be in 5-10th place.

“But now, for [the] Portimao [race] we cannot think about the podium or the victory. We have to think about what we have, try to take the best. Also, the conditions will change, the rubber on the track. We will see, but at the moment if tomorrow was the race with the conditions we had on track [in the test] we can fight for fifth to 10th, I believe”.

Marc Marquez on the potential of his bike

Marquez still doesn't know if his bike has the potential for something more. However, he does not want to look at things so negatively and hopes that things can be improved in the coming weeks, even months.

“We will see. Of course, we need to believe in it and at the moment in the standings everybody has zero points. Then when we pass five, six races you will understand immediately where you are. But it’s true we need to make a step, to keep improving.

But you cannot start a season with a negative mentality. You need to start with a positive mentality, trying to find the best. If you need to fight for the top five, try to fight for the top five. If you need to fight for the top 10, try to fight for the top 10.

This will be the key of the season. If you start a season with a negative mentality, it will be a very long season with 42 races”.