Marquez: 2018 Honda not at same level as 2014

Marc Marquez says his 2018 Repsol Honda package is yet to reach the heights of his dominant 2014 MotoGP campaign but warns his performances are always “relative” to his competitors.

The reigning MotoGP world champion has stormed into a dominant lead in the riders’ standings with a 36-point advantage over nearest rival Maverick Vinales for Movistar Yamaha thanks to three consecutive race wins coupled with his major rivals all hitting various issues.

Speaking during the Mugello Thursday press conference, Marquez has repeated his sentiment that his title charge will pivot on his results at circuits which traditionally don’t suit the Honda package and sees Mugello as another tricky track for his RC213V.

The Spaniard’s only MotoGP win at Mugello came during his all-conquering 2014 campaign, when he won all 10 opening rounds, and despite scoring a hat-trick of victories for the first time in his career since that historic run four years ago he feels there is more to come from Honda.

“Our pace is related, related to the performance of our opponents,” Marquez said. “I feel really good now with the bike but even in 2014 I felt better, 2014 was easier to ride but now it is different tyres and different electronics, everything different.

“Of course if the performance of your opponents is higher then you will struggle more with the bike. It now looks like we will be fast in all conditions like the second part of last season because we had a really good second part and now it looks like we’ve started in a good way.

“At circuits where we usually struggle we are able to finish at the top or on the podium so this will be the most important thing during the season.”

Marquez has also played down the significance of his reported lap record pace at the recent Mugello test, held the week before the French round, and doesn’t feel it will play a key role in the race weekend at the Italian track due to the change in weather.

“We did a test here three weeks ago and it was not bad but now the temperature is warmer so everything will change,” he said. “We must ride in the same way we have at the last few races.”