Defending MotoGP Virtual Race ‘champion’ Alex Marquez predicts both Francesco Bagna💛ia and Fabio Quartararo to remain his kꦑey challengers in this weekend’s second race.

10 riders are lining up for the second MotoGP Virtual Race, a 10-lap event at Austria’s Red Bull Ring run on the MotoGP19 video game, with Alex Marquez set to be the early favourite 🦩following his victorꦇy in the inaugural Virtual Race last time out.

Knowing h🐻e’ll be the target to beat for the rest of the MotoGP field, which includes Valentino Rossi for the first time, Marquez says he has ramped up his 🍷practice during the coronavirus shutdown period in preparation for the race and he expects both Bagnaia and Quartararo to be his biggest threats after the pair finished on the podium behind him in the first race.

“It will be nice to put on another show, but I think lots of the others will have been training harder! I’ve been practicing again at the Red Bull Ring, it’s quite different to Mugello 💙with a lot of heavy braking,” Alex said.

“In Mugello we saw a 🧸lot of people were on the limit, so I think Turn 1 of the race could be very exciting! It will be interesting to see how everyone has improved, but I still thin🃏k Pecco and Fabio will be a big challenge.”

Once again Alex is joined by his brother and team-mate Marc Marquez racing for the Repsol Honda squad and will be hoping to improve on his fifth place finish from the opener two weeks ago, ending the race behind the podium trio plus Maverick Vina༺les who claimed fourth place.

Marquez admits he’s also increased his prep♋arations for the second race in a bid to improve his victory hopes and remains optimistic about his chances.

“Well, since the last race I have stepped up my training a bit more,” Marc said. “When you’re a racer you want to win no matter ꦅwhat you are doing but mo👍st importantly this is for the fans.

“It’s nice to have something else to focus on alongside physical training. Everyone seemed to really enjoy watchinꦕg it last time so it should be another funny race. Let’s see what happens at ꩲthe Red Bull Ring.”

Mo🐎toGP’s Virtual Race II gets underway with a five-minute qualifying shootout before the 10-lap race with coverage starting at 14:00 BST on Sunday April 12.