Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) starts from second for his first home race of the year at the Circuito de Jerez, just missing pole after doing some detective work behind teammate Dani Pedrosa in qualifying. On provisional pole and then following the number 26 to compare strengths, Pedrosa hit back at the end of the session to secure his first pole since Sepang 2015 – but Marquez says he feels comfortable and good on the bike ahead of the race.
Marc Marquez, P2: “I’m really happy about second because normally Jerez is a track where I struggle but today I felt really good and comfortable. The first tyre I did a great lap, and the strategy was to use three tyres. But then when I went in I saw Valentino and Maverick waiting, then when I saw Dani was in front I followed him to see two or three corners to compare where he was faster than me. My last lap was all-in and luckily I saved the crash, but I enjoyed it a lot. When I arrived at Turn 13 I was still thinking about the previous one and I wasn’t concentrating. But I’m happy because the feeling is good and it’s a track where normally I struggle.”