Dani Pedrosa was part of the ‘DAZN’ team that broadcast the MotoGP German Grand Prix. During the weekend, the KTM rider took advantage of the ‘Box Cero’ section to analyze the differences in Marc Márquez’s riding style on the Ducati and the Honda at the Jerez-Ángel Nieto Circuit and Austin tracks. The lap with the golden wing bike is from 2019, while the one with the 2024 prototype is from this very year, 2024.
“One of the first differences we see is that, back then, he didn’t put out his right leg during braking (turn 1 at Jerez). Now, with the Ducati, he does. We see a much more aggressive Marc in that braking (with the Honda); at least, the bike’s movements are. We see a much more reactive bike, with much sharper movements where he has to modify his style and constantly control the abrupt gestures the bike makes. The Ducati is a calmer, more stable bike, with smoother movements, and he doesn’t have to correct improper gestures every four meters”, argues Pedrosa.
The KTM rider adds that “during braking (turns 1 and 2) you see a much more compressed body position on the Honda, as if he were much more compact. On the Ducati, he has a more stretched-out position. More abrupt movements with the Honda. The Ducati is a much calmer bike and makes slightly rounder lines than with the Honda, a bike with which he was normally looking for rear grip loss. Much of this is due to the change in tires, as now the tires have more grip than before; especially the rear”.
Asked if what’s needed now is more corner speed, Pedrosa explains that “this different rear tire, which is a bit softer, allows more grip when you’re at maximum lean. It allows you to stay longer in that part of the corner and gain time there because you can increase grip and speed. This way, you stress the bike less entering the corner to look for a ‘V’ line as you would with the Honda and the other carcass. Now, in that middle part of the corner, you lean the bike a lot and try to keep the minimum speed from being too low; let it increase. Thus, you extend the corner exit even without lifting the bike as much at the maximum exit”.
At the Austin Circuit
With another 2019 – 2024 comparison of Marc Márquez, now at the Austin circuit, #26 explains that “we see one of the strongest braking points of the championship (turn 12) and Marc, with the Honda, relies heavily on the front end, braking hard with the brake. In contrast, with the Ducati, he uses weight distribution much more, with more weight on the rear, and the engine brake of the rear wheel helps him stop the bike. With the Ducati, he doesn’t need to enter so aggressively. With the Honda, he enters sliding the rear, crossing the bike quite hard at that apex”.
Thus, Pedrosa summarizes that the change from Honda to Ducati has allowed Márquez to have a riding style that is “clearly, much less aggressive than before. The bike allows him to be much faster, and the bike doesn’t require him to be so aggressive. The tires don’t like those aggressive pressure changes that could be caused by hard braking, moving the bike, or leaning it aggressively. We see a clear difference between a much more aggressive Márquez on the Honda than on the Ducati”.