Jorge Martin
Jorge Martin was officially declared fit after further medical checks, which allow him to finally race. So, we can expect to see Martin in FP1 and beyond. He was welcomed back, as it had been a challenging period for him. When asked how he feels about returning, Martin said he feels nervous but is happy to be back. He worked hard to return, but he doesn’t know what to expect and doesn’t feel 100% confident. He has a lot of strength but still feels pain, so he’ll see how the weekend goes.

Martin was asked if he had set any goals, like taking the weekend session by session. He replied, “Yes, I will take it session by session, but I don’t think I’ll be able to finish the weekend. So we’ll see—I still need to adapt to the bike.”

He was then asked about his presence at COTA, where he observed how the team works, and what he thinks of it. He said he tried to be in Austin because it’s important to get to know the team, as it’s a new team for him. He’s looking forward to finally starting.

Marc Marquez
Marc was asked about leaving COTA visibly angry, which is understandable for someone who crashed out while leading. When asked how he’s feeling now and how fast he moved on from the frustration, Marc said, “This is racing—you can lead and still make a mistake.” He knows exactly where the mistake happened, and he’s glad he understands what went wrong.

This is the first time Marc Marquez is in Qatar with Ducati, but he’s at a disadvantage, as this track suits his teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, better. When asked how he sees his potential in Qatar, Marc said that Alex (his brother) and Pecco are better at this track. However, he still has hope, saying, “Let’s see what we can do—I am competitive, which is a very good sign. If I’m not good, then it’s time to work and improve.”

Francesco Bagnaia
Bagnaia was asked how he feels about this weekend. He’s had a decent start to the season, and he was asked if he thinks things can change here. He replied that they’re trying hard and know where they’ve made mistakes and what needs improvement.

Referring back to COTA, he said he had hoped to finish P2, but after Marc crashed, he pushed even harder and won. Bagnaia was also asked if he thinks he’s returning to his 2022 form or if he still needs to work on his performance. He replied, “I think this track is better for us. We just need to keep working in every area. We know the track will improve with each session.”

He said they had a test recently and that during yesterday’s track walk, the surface was very dirty. “We need to be prepared for anything,” he added. However, he praised the Michelin tires, saying they brought very good ones, and this weekend looks favorable for soft compounds. “I’m here with riders who are very competitive.”

When asked if Marc could be competitive, Bagnaia responded that Marc was already competitive here last year.

Alex Marquez
After COTA, Alex was called “Mr. P2,” but in fact, he is “Mr. P1” in the current championship standings. He was asked if he feels different coming into Qatar as the championship leader.

Alex replied, “It does feel different. It’s another weekend where I need to gather points—not just for me, but also for the team.” He said he and the team are doing a great job to stay in the lead and hopes they can continue. “This is like a gift for all the hard work.”

He also looked back at COTA, mentioning he didn’t feel confident on the medium tire. But now, they need to be more confident in both performance and mindset.

“It’s another weekend to collect as many points as possible and enjoy it,” he added. When asked if Qatar is a good track for him—since previous Gresini riders had victories there—he said, “Yes, it’s a good track for me, but it’s still another weekend where we try to stay focused from FP1 to score maximum points.”