Marquez set to leave his Marc on track
World champ ready to race at Buri Ram circuit
Four-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez said yesterday he was ready for this weekend’s inaugural PTT Thailand Grand Prix in Buri Ram.
However, the Spaniard said he must remain focused and calm as he looks forward to racing for the first time at Chang International Circuit in the northeastern province.
“It will be exciting to race in Thailand for the first time. For sure there will be many fans in the grandstands, which is always a nice feeling,” said the Repsol Honda rider.
“We must remain focused and calm though, as it will be important to manage the weekend well, working in the way that we’re used to doing. We had a good test [in Buri Ram] in February but we’ll need to recheck every detail starting on Friday morning.
“Some parts of the circuit are tricky, but the layout in general is nice. Surely the high humidity and temperature are going to be demanding on the body, but when you get on the bike you just forget those things and simply focus on riding.”
The 25-year-old secured his sixth win of the season in the previous race at the Aragon Grand Prix on home soil last month.
Marquez has 246 points in the 2018 championship standings, 72 ahead of Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso (174). Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi is third on 159 points.
The Buri Ram event is the 15th of 19 races this season.
Marquez set the third quickest lap time at the pre-season test at Chang International Circuit but it was Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa who topped the timesheets back in February.
“Of course we have the references from the test we did in February, which went well, so we hope the feeling will be similar,” explained three-time world champion Pedrosa, who gears up for his final five MotoGP races before retiring at the end of the season.
Marquez said: “I am very happy to be back to Thailand once again after I came here during the winter test in February.
“For this week’s race, I am 100 percent ready after winning the Aragon Grand Prix last month. I have a lot of confidence. Although I am not yet fully fit because I have just arrived in Thailand, I believe that when the race begins, I will be fit for the competition.
“I want to win the world championship or get a good position in every race. I hope everything will go to the plan.”
Marquez yesterday took part in a promotional event at Bangkok’s Maha Chetsadabodin Pavilion Court at Wat Ratchanatdaram.
The young star also watched a traditional Thai puppet dance.
There are four local racers at the Thailand Grand Prix, led by Moto3 star Nakarin Athirattapuwapat, currently the only Thai in the world motorcycle championship.
The Honda Team Asia rider will race along with compatriots Somkiat Chantra of AP Honda Thailand Racing and Apiwat Wongthananon of Yamaha who have received wild-card berths as racers of the host country.
“I am waiting for this race for a long time because it is my home race. I am familiar with the circuit. I will try my best to get a good result,” Nakarin said.
Thitipong Warokorn will race for SAG Racing Team in Moto2 as a sponsor invite.