MotoGP: Marquez confident in set-up for Argentina

Omnisports

March 30, 2016 1:27 AM

After making promising progress in Qatar, Marc Marquez attempts to return to winning ways at the Argentina Grand Prix.

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Marc Marquez is hopeful the right set-up has been found on his Repsol Honda as he attempts to avenge last year's contentious defeat to rival Valentino Rossi at the Argentina Grand Prix.

It has been almost 12 months since Rossi clawed back a near five-second gap to go toe-to-toe with Marquez on the final lap at the Termas de Rio Hondo.

The pair made contact twice and the latter collision brought Marquez crashing to ground, ending his race.

It was the first of several clashes between the two, with the pair notably coming together in Assen and Sepang.

Two-time MotoGP world champion Marquez put an indifferent season behind him to pip Rossi into third at the season-opener in Qatar last time out.

That race was the first used on new Michelin tyres for 2016 and, with no testing having taken place in Argentina, riders will be taking a step into the unknown this weekend.

However, Marquez hopes his solid outing in Qatar can prove beneficial.

"Of course we haven't had a winter test here to count on and we'll have to see if the set-up we found in Qatar will also work here," Marquez said.

"That would be a good step forward for us, generally speaking, and we could even aim for a little bit better result on Sunday.

"Of course it will be a question-mark until Friday but all in all, Argentina is a circuit that I like. We've always been fast here, so I feel positive for the weekend."

Rossi - who made his debut in the 125cc class 20 years ago on March 31 1996 - may have been victorious here last season, but he has failed to reach the podium in four of his past seven races.

The Italian will be desperate to alter that record in South America with reigning champion and Movistar Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo starting with a win in Qatar.

Lorenzo held off a sustained challenge from Andrea Dovizioso, who he passed on lap nine, to clinch the victory.

Dovizioso may have missed out on Ducati's first win since 2010, but the Italian is confident he has a bike to compete.

"The Termas track is completely different to Losail, but judging by our current performance I think that now we have a good base for the next few races," Dovizioso said.

"This year it's always a bit of an unknown factor to go to a track where we have never tested with the Michelins, but after Qatar I am aware that the [bike] has already reached an excellent competitive level."

Omnisports

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