Mark Marquez had a steep learning curve at the Valencia test earlier this week. First time on a MotoGP bike. First time with 250 hp (his Moto2 bike put out roughly 125). First time using carbon brakes. First time on MotoGP Bridgestone racing tires.
Despite this, and the dodgy Valencia weather, Marquez managed 27 laps. More impressively, with less than an hour of track time, he recorded a best lap roughly 1 second slower than the fastest lap of the test (by Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa), and just 3/10ths of a second off the fastest lap recorded in the Valencia MotoGP race last weekend (also by Pedrosa).
The veterans of the MotoGP class know that Marquez will be fast from Day 1. Already, some of the riders, including Valentino Rossi (now on a Yamaha) are claiming that Marquez rides too aggressively, i.e., he is dangerous. Marquez does take big risks, but the 2012 Moto2 champion expects big rewards in return, and he usually gets them.
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