Repsol Honda duo 1-2 on second day of testing at COTA

from TWOWHEELSBLOG

Wunderkind is probabily the best definition of Marc Marquez at this private test at the Circuit of the Americas. The MotoGP rookie has been dominating both days of testing so far with an ease that is probably making Repsol Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto crow with joy and the odds of Marquez winning the first round of the season have gotten even better.

Don’t let the fact that a dour Dani Pedrosa was a little more than one tenth adrift from his team mate because it took him his last flying lap to get there and it looks like demanding Texas circuit doesn’t particularly agree with the veteran rider.

Here’s what Marquez and Pedrosa said on the second day of testing:

“Today we continued along the same line as yesterday, we tried to find the best gearbox, the best electronic settings and the best geometry on this track. Especially in the beginning the track was quite slippery. I didn’t expect that, as I thought that after yesterday the grip would be better, but then lap by lap it was better and for this afternoon I think it will be good,”commented Marquez. “To be consistent is very difficult because it has many hard braking points and it’s tough to stay concentrated and always brake at the same point. When we are on the track and ride with the other riders, like Stefan, Valentino, Lorenzo and Dani, you need to pay attention. You can’t show what is your line, what it the best line, because then they can learn something. But also when I try to follow them they close…so I do the same thing.”

“I’m just doing more laps. That’s it. The grip is very similar to yesterday, so I’m just getting used to doing some changes on the gearbox to feel a little bit more comfortable through the corners with the gears. Also we’re trying some changes on the suspension. But as this is not a reference place for us, or anybody, it’s hard to judge if you change some things on the bike. It’s really hard to judge [Bridgestone tyre performance], as there are only five bikesriding and not much rubber on the ground. Today we’ll be trying some new things, but basically the grip is so low that it’s hard to go harder on the specs,” said Pedrosa.