'Watch out for Marc Marquez' - Six-time MotoGP champion sent message to rivals in Qatar, says Sylvain Guintoli

Marc Marquez will be “really happy” with fourth on his Gresini debut in Qatar and the rest of the field should “watch out” for the six-time MotoGP champion this season, says Sylvain Guintoli.

The Spaniard ended a 11-year spell with Honda, where he won six MotoGP world titles in seven years between 2013 and 2019, to join the Italian team, a Ducati satellite team, ahead of this season.

After two difficult years where he finished the season in lowly 13th and 14th positions in the drivers’ standings, Marquez was back fighting at the front in Qatar on Sunday.

Although he never truly challenged world champion Francesco Bagnaia for the win or Brad Binder and Jorge Martin for a podium place, TNT Sports expert and 2014 World Superbike champion Guintoli believes Marquez will be encouraged by his performance.

“He will be really happy with that. He is still adapting to the Ducati riding style after spending all those years on the Honda,” Guintoli said.

“Making that lap time in the breaking zones, he’s having to really restrain himself, not to push back too hard, and use the efficiency of the Ducati on the corner exit. It’s working.”

Marquez ended the weekend with 18 points to his name after achieving a fifth-place finish in the Sprint race on Saturday before going one better in Sunday’s Grand Prix.

“This is not his favourite track; he’s only won once here in MotoGP,” Guintoli added.

“Even when he was dominating. I think he will be happy with both of his races, yesterday and today.

“He was pretty close to the podium, great race pace and there would have been a lot of learning for him today.

“Watch out for Marc Marquez during the rest of the Championship.”

Former MotoGP rider Michael Laverty agreed that there is plenty for the 31-year-old to be positive about heading into the second race of the season in Portugal on 24 March.

“It is a tough track for him and he’s not crashed, he’s not made many mistakes,” said Laverty.

“He’s brought home solid points, fourth and fifth, he will be going home happy for sure.”

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