Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda seemed doubtful to perform to his full ability as the 2014 season opener drew near at this time a year ago. This was thanks to a leg injury sustained in a motocross accident, and it worried many that the young Spaniard would not be able to easily - if at all - win the premier class of MotoGP for the second year in a row, after a stellar rookie season. As last season's MotoGP campaign continued on, Marquez rode to a record breaking second championship in as many tries. He managed to go undefeated through the first 11 rounds of the championship, effectively taking away the hopes of other riders' for the 2014 title.
After earning such a dominant reputation in the MotoGP paddock and with fans worldwide, the 2015 season has so far been good to Marc Marquez. He ran at the front in all sessions of pre-season testing, mostly leading each with the fastest time. The 2015 opener under the lights at Losail Circuit in Doha, Qatar is finally set to get a new season underway for the Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP classes.
The first official day of the 2015 season saw Marquez picking up right where he left off last season. He laid down an impressive lap early in free practice one (FP1), a 1'55.281. With his team trying out some new settings on his RC213V, Marquez said that he felt good around the fast yet bendy Losail International Circuit. His Repsol Honda stablemate and fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa's best lap in the first session of the 2015 championship was good enough to be 0.076s behind Marquez. Pedrosa was the only rider able to get within four-tenths of the reigning world champion, and the team was delighted to have their two machines running 1-2 fastest as the first day concluded.
Ducati's new GP15 bike was faster than both Hondas at Qatar during the recent test, but it was Team Suzuki Ecstar's Aleix Espargaro who was third quickest behind the two Repsol Hondas of Marquez and Pedrosa. Espargaro, teammate to Maverick Vinales as Suzuki returns to MotoGP competition for the 2015 season, took advantage of the extra-soft tire option - which is only open to factory teams that are winless since 2013. He did mention, though, that he was happy with his pace on the harder compound tires as well.
Behind these three was two-time MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo of Yamaha. He said that they were having issues with the bike, stating that it was "floating" around the circuit; this was similar to issues they experienced during the test at Qatar.
Fifth fastest was CQM LCR's Cal Crutchlow, who leaves Ducati for the Honda-powered team for the new season. Admitting that he suffered from brake issues once again, he was the quickest non-prototype rider in the first session of the year. On a flying lap quicker than his current quickest in the session, Avintia Racing Ducati's Mike Di Meglio obstructed the racing line, earning himself a penalty point - before points have even been distributed for any races yet.
Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi of Yamaha had a frustrating opening day to the season, finishing ninth quickest. Stating that he had a problem with rear grip, he hopes his team can work on this for tomorrow's qualifying where the grid will be set for the first race of 2015.
Marc Marquez, coming off an impressive 2013, an astouning 2014, and some expected performances at pre-season testing, will be the rider to beat as the season gets underway.