The reason is simple. Marquezౠ also had high hopes for this year’s German MotoGP, at a Saꦚchsenring track where he was unbeaten as a MotoGP rider.

But the weekend was ‘the worst ꦕof the calendar’ and, after suffering five accidents, the Repsol Honda rider withdrew from the Sunday race. Many also believe the Sachsenring woes played a big part in his subsequent decision to leave HRC⛎.

After a first podium of the year in Japan, the future Gresini Ducati rider then struggled to a double DNF at Mandalika last weekend, leaving the track without speaking to🌳 the m🐻edia.

“Of course,♔ Mandalika wasn't one of my best weekends,” Marquez told MotoGP.com at Phillip Island.

“It’s true that Friday was super good but then during ༒the weekend we were struggling and💛 I was not able to finish the race.

“So not one of my best weekends. Then here we n🅰eed to rebuild the confidence and see what we can do.”

But the 🦋30-year-old played down a repeat of last year’s podium.

“I have zero expe♑ctations,” he said. “Also Sachsenring was a track that should be OK but in the end was the worst weeke🌌nd of the calendar.

“Let’s see how I feel in FP1 because also it’s a track where i🧸f you don’t have the feeling, you cannot push. Because it’s super fast. S💧o step-by step.”