Marquez says "feeling more consistent" with new tyre

Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashed out of podium contention in the French GP, but a one day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya focusing on the new Michelin front tyre that will be available at Mugello leaves the number 93 optimistic of a bounce back at the Gran Premio D'Italia Oakley, where he won previously in 2014.

Marquez also took his first ever win in the 125 Championship at the Italian venue, which is another positive omen ahead of the race weekend - the first where the paddock will be reconvened following the tragic passing of 2006 MotoGP™ World Champion Nicky Hayden, who also shared the garage at Repsol Honda with Marquez at Phillip Island last year.

Marc Marquez: "We were preparing to leave for Montmeló for a one-day test last week when we received the terrible news of Nicky’s passing. He was a great rider and an incredible person. I remember once, when I was a kid of 15 at the very beginning of my career in the world championship and he was the MotoGP World Champion: We took part in an event together and my English was very poor, so he tried to speak Spanish and he was very funny and easy-going, treating me as if I was his little brother. And then we shared the garage last year in Australia and had a great party together after the race. Like his amazing family, he had a great passion for motorcycling, and he will always be in our hearts. As for the test, we worked on the bike setup and we especially focused in trying the Michelin front tyre that we’ll use starting with the next race in Mugello. With this tyre I experienced less movement on the front, and the feeling was more consistent throughout the lap. It remains to understand how it will go for an entire race, but anyway, with my riding style I generally feel better with it and I’m confident that in Mugello it will help me a bit more.