Marc Marquez curious to try Ducati in bid to break Mandalika hoodoo
The winner of two of the last three races has set modest goals for Indonesia
Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Marc Marquez wants to assess his potential with Ducati at the Indonesian Grand Prix at the Mandalika Street Circuit which has blotted the six-time MotoGP world champion's otherwise stellar record having failed to ever finish a race at the track.
The Spaniard can count himself as a past winner at 16 of the 19 venues that form the 2024 MotoGP calendar, but while he has stood on the podium at two of the remaining three in Portugal and Austria, he is yet to even reach the chequered flag in Indonesia.
Though it is a statistic conditioned by the fact MotoGP has visited the Lombok circuit on just two occasions, Marquez has thus far completed only seven racing laps on Indonesian soil.
Forced to sit out Indonesia's inaugural MotoGP grand prix in 2022 following a huge accident during Sunday morning's warm-up, Marquez went on to compound his Mandalika woes the following year by crashing out early in both the Sprint and full-length races too.
A firm favourite among local fans, Marquez is nevertheless well placed to make good on their support in 2024 as he bids to extend a rich vein of form that has seen him win two of the last three grands prix aboard the Gresini Ducati GP23.
Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
"It will be interesting to understand where we are here," Marquez said. "I haven't finished a race here in Indonesia because in 2022 I had that massive crash in the warm-up, so it will be interesting to understand our level with the Ducati.
"It's a track that I like. It's not one of my favourites, but I like it even though in the past it has not been super good.
"I'm looking forward to it [though]. We'll aim for the top four or five."
Marquez, who will be promoted to the factory Ducati team alongside Pecco Bagnaia next season, arrives at Mandalika classified fourth in the overall standings.
Staring down a 60-point margin between himself and championship leader Jorge Martin, Marquez wouldn't be drawn on whether he still considers himself to be a contender for this year's title.
"For me, I have already achieved my targets for this season," he replied upon being quizzed over whether he plans to change tactics for the final six rounds.
"Just enjoying [the final rounds] is the key."
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Top Comments
Bagnaia recovery in Indonesia GP keeps MotoGP title pressure on Martin
Is it fair to brand MotoGP 2024 'a championship of mistakes'?
Acosta says he’s getting 'closer and closer' to first MotoGP win
Haas F1 team agrees technical partnership with Toyota
Chase Elliott on the bubble as four drivers face Roval elimination
Andretti F1 plans unchanged after ownership switch
Supercars Finals switch-up a hit or miss? Our writers have their say
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
