Marc Marquez admitted that Ducati fell behind Aprilia at Mandalika, with the Aprilia team producing a clear 0.5‑second gap during Friday practice.
Practice Reveals Aprilia Advantage
The Indonesian circuit saw Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez dominate, completing a 1‑2‑3 for the Noale‑based crew after blowing the track record on gun‑fire. Ducati’s best, Marquez, finished fifth, trailing even KTM’s Pedro Acosta. His time left him 0.7 s behind Fernandez and 0.5 s shy of Aprilia’s top factory contender Marco Bezzecchi.
Mandalika’s fast, flowing layout and Michelin’s stiffer‑rear racing slicks have historically challenged Ducati, a fact that Marquez echoed, citing the rider’s own three attempts on Sunday races still ending unfinished.
Ducati’s Gap and Marquez’s Realism
Marquez said the deficit was “real” and not inflated by any mitigating factors. He noted Aprilia’s pace, with Fernandez clocking a 29.7 on a medium tyre, leaving the Ducati the half‑second behind. “We can’t hide from it,” he said, adding the team must push to mine every advantage available.
Speaking after Friday’s second‑fastest “FP1” time, Marquez balanced optimism with candor: “I expected to be further back, but we’ve started from a decent base and will give 100% over the weekend.” He acknowledged the need for both pace and tyre optimisation, stating “When it comes to time‑attack, that’s where I’m not getting the most out of the tyres.”
Qualifying Hurdle and Podium Outlook
Despite the gap, Marquez vowed to “attack every weekend,” even on circuits misaligned with his style. He admitted that a podium would demand turning the situation “quite a bit” and that candidly, even the front four Aprilia riders “look optimistic.” The focus, he said, will shift to “scoring as many points as possible” rather than outright victory.
With qualifying in sight, Marquez’s team faces a challenge that may determine whether the Defi’s can break the four‑second rule and do anything other than meet the track’s demands rather than defy them.
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