Alex Marquez was left enthused after scoring his first MotoGP podium finish on Ducati machinery in only his fourth race running the machine, admitting the Argentina Grand Prix felt “long”.
The Gresini pilot came out swinging on Saturday at the Termas de Rio Hondo to score a first-ever premier class pole position, though had to make do with fifth in the sprint race.
He then ran second for the majority of Sunday’s Argentina GP behind eventual victor Marco Bezzecchi, briefly losing the spot to Francesco Bagnaia until the factory Ducati rider then crashed out, before then losing it once more on the final lap to Johann Zarco – leaving him to complete the rostrum in third.
His podium result was his first since finishing second in the 2020 Aragon GP with the factory Honda squad, Marquez conceding the race felt “long” as a result of the tricky wet conditions, adding that he “would have signed the paper” had he been offered his eventual results tally prior to the weekend.
“That was long, 24 laps felt so long trying to survive all the moments and be consistent,” explained Marquez to BT Sport.
“I’m super happy because it was so easy to make a mistake and not achieve points but we did something really good, so we need to keep working like this and we are going in a positive direction.
“If I came here before and you told me I’d get a pole, P5 in the sprint and then a podium I’d have signed the paper so it’s really positive, we are fourth in the championship in only the second race, so we can be satisfied for the future.”
Marquez also declared he is “enjoying a lot” his new Desmosedici following three largely tumultuous years in the Honda camp, the 2019 Moto2 world champion asserting that there is more to come as he is “still missing something with the riding style.”
“I’m enjoying (Ducati) a lot, to experience this after my first three years is really nice, and to be on the pole in the premier class is really amazing,” added Marquez.
“I can ride in a good way, I’m still missing something with the riding style so we need to improve this but we’re in a constant and positive progression and this is the thing we need to keep going.”
Marquez currently sits fourth in the riders standings following a successful opening two rounds of the 2023 term, just 17 points adrift of series leader Bezzecchi heading to the Circuit of the Americas for the US round of the championship in just under two weeks time.
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