Marc Marquez says the area of the 2019 MotoGP Honda he wants to see improved is the front-end, as he looks to open up his choice of front tyre for races next season.
Reigning world champion Marquez, along with HRC-backed LCR rider Cal Crutchlow, are typically forced into running the hardest option front tyre in races due to their aggressive braking style.
Both used this as a way of making up time lost exiting corners due to the Honda's aggressive engine, though this has been less of an issue this year thanks to a smoother motor.
Speaking after the first day of testing in Valencia, Marquez said the “front part” of the bike is the area of the '19 bike he wants to see improved over the '18, but admits this will be “difficult”.
“Of course, we trying to improve – all the riders, if you ask them – if you can have more torque it is better because in the straight [because] it's free time,” he said.
“But then especially now we are working on the specification of the engine, but also we are trying to understand the front part of the bike with the front tyre, because we need to use all the time the hard tyres and try to change that style.
“But will be difficult, because, it's a critical bike, but we are winning. So we need to change, but step-by-step to not lose the way.”
On the Wednesday, a chassis update Marquez tried allowed him to run with the medium option front tyre.
Marquez also trialled a new steering damper during the Valencia test on his way to third on the timesheets.
The Spaniard said his feeling on the '19 bike was as good, if slightly better than with the '18 RC213V on his first laps, but was unsure if the new damper contributed to this.
“Yeah, we are working on it,” he replied when asked about the damper.
“A few things, it's not only one change, we are working on many things. So it's a few different things, but the first feeling when I got out on track was same level or even slightly better than the current bike.
“So this is the most important thing, but I cannot say if it's for the steering damper or something else.”
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