Marquez says Honda bike "difficult" to ride at Jerez

MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez admitted his Honda RC213V is proving "difficult" to ride at Jerez after beating beaten by both Yamaha riders in qualifying.

Marquez was the only Honda rider to qualify within the first two rows for the Spanish Grand Prix, placing a close third behind the Yamaha duo of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

Asked after qualifying whether the Honda bike was a handful around Jerez, Marquez conceded: "It's difficult, it's difficult, especially because here Dani [Pedrosa, P7 on the grid] always was really strong.

"We know that we don't have an easy bike but Honda is working really hard and, also my team, we are working really hard.

"For example, in FP4, I start with one bike, second run I change the bike with another set-up and, in qualy, I change the bike for another set-up, another balance, so we are still looking to find the great set-up in this kind of track because in the pre-season [it was] always the long, wide tracks - we must find the compromise with the stability and the acceleration.

"Is difficult, but the most important is that I feel good and. even like this, I know that we can improve in some areas, we'll have some things we can try on Monday [in the test], we are close to Yamaha riders so I'm happy with this."

Pedrosa woes continue

Pedrosa, who qualified eight tenths off Marquez, said: "The thing I'm struggling with is the grip, the exit of the corner.

"Compared to Marc, I use less power, I use less throttle, the exit angle is more straight but I have much more spinning than him.

"I try many things to compensate but it's difficult to recover everything. This track is very demanding for acceleration - that's why I was always good here, because I can do a good line, good acceleration."

Pedrosa did say he believes he has made some improvement on Saturday, but admitted: " My grid position wasn't good, I couldn't make [a lap] any faster, I pushed myself to the limit but I couldn't get it.

"I need to start riding well tomorrow and get a good first lap so I don't lose too much with the first three - but anyway they have a little better rhythm than me so I just try to be very focussed and do the best I can."

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont