Gresini Ducati MotoGP rider Alex Marquez says his GP26 struggled for grip in hotter conditions, contributing to his sprint struggles at the French Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard came to Le Mans off the back of a dominant victory at the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
But Le Mans has not been the easiest of circuits for Alex Marquez<\/a> over the years, with the Gresini<\/a> rider suffering a crash during qualifying.<\/p>\n This left him 10th on the grid, with Marquez only able to get as high as eighth, 6.6s from sprint winner Jorge Martin on the Aprilia.<\/p>\n \u2018We have good pace\u2026 we need a tenth\u2019<\/p>\n Speaking after the sprint, Marquez took the blame for his qualifying crash, which he says cost him a second row spot at minimum.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n He also explained that his GP26 struggled for grip in hotter conditions on Saturday, but believes he only needs to find \u201cone tenth, one and a half tenths\u201d to be on podium pace for the grand prix.<\/p>\n \u201cWas difficult, but especially because I did that mistake – myself – in the qualifying that cost us to start at least in the second row; I think that was more than possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I did a big mistake in [Turns] one, two, and I kept the same speed for three, and suddenly I lost the front.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t expect it, so it was a little bit difficult. Just that.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, we are missing, especially when the temperature goes really high, with rear grip, which is the main problem that we have.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I was struggling more on the sprint.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the pace was not really bad, so for tomorrow if we improve a little bit and we are able to improve one tenth, one and a half tenths per lap, then I think we have good pace.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Marquez\u2019s difficulties came as Pecco Bagnaia qualified his factory Ducati on pole and finished second in the sprint.<\/p>\n His elder brother Marc Marquez was second on the grid, though he struggled in the sprint before crashing heavily on the penultimate lap and fracturing his right foot.<\/p>\n