{"id":629128,"date":"2026-04-25T02:49:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T02:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/629128\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T02:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T02:49:45","slug":"marc-marquez-can-only-survive-in-spanish-gp-despite-return-to-full-fitness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/629128\/","title":{"rendered":"Marc Marquez can only “survive” in Spanish GP despite return to full fitness"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marc Marquez<\/a> confirmed he is fully fit after nearly a month away from racing in MotoGP, but admitted he currently lacks the pace to mount an \u201cattack\u201d at the Spanish Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

The factory Ducati rider took advantage of an extended break in the calendar to recover from his Indonesia 2025 injuries, as well as a crash in Austin that left him in pain.<\/p>\n

While his improved physical condition was expected to help him return to the front at this weekend\u2019s Spanish GP, he struggled to match his Ducati compatriots Alex Marquez<\/a> and Fabio di Giannantonio<\/a> in Friday practice.<\/p>\n

The reigning world champion was even at the risk of a Q1 relegation as he approached the end of a session, with only a late improvement on the soft rear tyre catapulting him to fourth place.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speaking with the media, Marquez said he is pinning his hopes on overnight improvements, with even a podium appearing out of reach of him after Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot a good day, not a bad day. It was a standard day where we work,\u201d he summed up.\u00a0\u201cAt the moment, we are there around 4-5-6 on the rhythm and on the fast lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet’s see tomorrow how we will be in qualifying practice, and from that point, we will understand what we can do in the race.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Marc <\/p>\n

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team<\/p>\n

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography \/ LAT Images \/ via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t have the potential to attack. At the moment, I have the potential to survive. It’s true that let’s see if tomorrow we can improve.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, we need to keep working over the weekend if we want to improve, or stand any chance of fighting for the podium. At the moment, we\u2019re nowhere near that.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Aprilia doesn\u2019t usually start a race weekend strongly, Friday practice suggested that Ducati had a decisive edge over its rival at Jerez.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s Spanish GP winner Alex Marquez was three tenths quicker than the rest of the field in the afternoon, while VR46 di Giannantonio was also rapid throughout the day on the factory-spec bike.<\/p>\n

But Marc Marquez finished Friday half a second down on his brother, with\u00a0di Giannantonio and Aprilia\u2019s Marco Bezzecchi<\/a> also outpacing him over a single lap.<\/p>\n

Marc Marquez conceded his lack of speed was down to his own struggles rather than any issues with the bike, saying: \u201cI’m a bit slower than the others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are working inside our garage to improve the weak points where I’m struggling more. It looks like now where I’m losing more was sector 4, the last two corners, fast corners. But also the left corners, the feeling today was not good.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Marc <\/p>\n

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team<\/p>\n

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography \/ LAT Images \/ via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysically, I’m OK. We just need to work in the garage to keep improving the feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marc Marquez felt his struggles were exacerbated on fresh\u00a0tyres – a major disadvantage at a track where qualifying position is crucial.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle by little we\u2019re getting closer, but it\u2019s true that it\u2019s on a single lap where I\u2019m struggling the most,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cWith used tyres, everything evens out a bit, but you don\u2019t make up for what you\u2019ve already lost with new rubber.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photos from Spanish GP – Friday<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\n <\/a>
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\"Jorge<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Enea<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Toprak<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Enea<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Alex<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Lorenzo<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Marc<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Jack<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Luca<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Enea<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Pedro<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Fabio<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Toprak<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Augusto<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Fabio<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Joan<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Jorge<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Marc<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Fabio<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Ai<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Fans\"\/<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Jorge<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Fabio<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Alex<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Marc<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Johann<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Alex<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Jack<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Marc<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Augusto<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Fermin<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Ai<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Alex<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Marc<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Diogo<\/p>\n


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\"Brad<\/p>\n


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\"Lorenzo<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Fabio<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Johann<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Marc<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Brad<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Marco<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Diogo<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Jorge<\/p>\n


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\"Brad<\/p>\n


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\"Marc<\/p>\n


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\"Fabio<\/p>\n


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\"Francesco<\/p>\n


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\"Francesco<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Johann<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Ai<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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\"Marco<\/p>\n


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\"Pedro<\/p>\n


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\n Spanish GP – Friday, in Photos
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Read Also:<\/p>\n

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– The Motorsport.com Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Marc Marquez confirmed he is fully fit after nearly a month away from racing in MotoGP, but admitted…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":629129,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[572],"tags":[64,63,224629,8542,4280,304885,5745,806,805,803,804,254732,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-629128","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-motosport","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-circuito-de-jerez","11":"tag-ducati-team","12":"tag-marc-marquez","13":"tag-marc-marquez-can-only-survive-in-spanish-gp-despite-return-to-full-fitness","14":"tag-motogp","15":"tag-motor","16":"tag-motor-sports","17":"tag-motosport","18":"tag-motosports","19":"tag-spanish-gp","20":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=629128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/629129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=629128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=629128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=629128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}