Repsol Honda Team wraps up pre-season test in Qatar

Michelle Liew

February 25, 2020

Riders will be battling their way past their first chequered flag in the Qatar Grand Prix on March 8.

Repsol Honda Team | Photo credits: HRC

After three days of riding under the floodlit Losail International Circuit in Qatar, the 2020 MotoGP pre-season test is officially finished. Riders from all teams will be preparing for the upcoming opening race next month with the information they gathered during the weekend.

Defending champions Repsol Honda Team managed to lock down positive results by the end of the Qatar test. The three days allowed riders Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez discover the variety of options in order to be in the best position possible for the season opener.

Photo credits: HRC

Eight-time world champion Marc Marquez secured stellar results during the testing programme, with information enough to improve his performance. During the last day of the test, Marc secured a good lap time with his best record at 1’54.149 and only 0.291s from the fastest time overall. 

Brother Alex Marquez, on the other hand, was the first Repsol Honda team rider out on the track. The rookie continued to work relentlessly to improve his fastest la time from the previous day. Alex completed 152 laps and capped his best run at 1’55.519.

Repsol Honda Team will continue to make the final detailed preparations for the 2020 MotoGP season. The team will make its return to Qatar for the first Grand Prix of the year on March 6 to 8.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)- As It Happened

Photo credits: HRC

“After the first two days, I was a little worried in all honesty. We were struggling to understand how to improve where we needed to. But today we have made a big breakthrough. Now we understand what we need to do, I’m really pleased with what we have done. I was able to be really consistent and I was happy with my rhythm. I have to say a big thank you to Honda, the engineers and my mechanics because they have worked a lot this test and the results are showing for us. We have a direction to follow when we return here for the race,” says Marquez as quoted from Honda Racing Corporation.

Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)- As It Happened

Photo credits: HRC

“Today again I was feeling better physically, and the first 30 laps were quite good. We didn’t really have a chance to do a proper time attack today. We were busy with other things and I am still not physically at my best. Although we were strong in Sepang, we haven’t been as close as I would have liked to the rest of the field. Thanks to our work this test my team think they have some solutions for the GP next week. I am pleased with this. Now I’ll return home to prepare in the best way possible for my first MotoGP race.”