The innovative visualization technique that Marc Marquez employs for aerodynamic testing in MotoGP is truly fascinating.
As the winter season approaches, with the engine designs now largely finalized—Yamaha being the only exception—the primary focus for MotoGP teams is determining their aerodynamic setups for the upcoming season.
Given that only one additional update to the Aero Body components will be allowed during the season, the pressure is on to make the most informed decisions possible within the brief pre-season testing period.
This year, teams are granted a mere five days of testing split between Sepang and Buriram. During this time, the reigning MotoGP champion, Marc Marquez, shared his unique approach to optimizing performance. He cleverly utilizes various sections of the Malaysian circuit to mimic cornering sequences found at other venues throughout the racing calendar.
After undergoing shoulder surgery last October, Marquez made quite an impression by finishing first on the first day of testing, ultimately concluding the sessions in fourth place overall. His standout performance included a remarkable lap time of 1 minute 56.789 seconds on the final morning, where he achieved fifth-fastest in Sector 1 (which includes the critical Turn 1 braking area), eighth in the fluid Sector 2, fourth in Sector 3, and impressively, the fastest time in Sector 4—a segment characterized by long straights and a challenging final hairpin.
When asked if two circuits were sufficient for selecting an aerodynamic package, Marquez candidly responded, "No. But there’s no choice! So you need to be careful."
He elaborated, saying, "At this racetrack, there are many different types of corners, so you have to visualize yourself at other tracks. In various areas of the track, you can picture the corners resembling those in Qatar or Jerez, which helps you develop a clearer perspective on how each aerodynamic package will perform over the course of 22 races."
By the end of the Sepang test, it appeared that Marquez was inclined to retain at least a portion of the 2025 aerodynamic setup, though he admitted, "I still need to understand more in Thailand."
The upcoming Buriram test is scheduled for February 21-22, and shortly thereafter, each rider must finalize their official aerodynamic homologation just before the Thai MotoGP weekend kicks off.
With two decades of experience in the paddock, Peter has witnessed the rise and fall of legends like Valentino Rossi and is currently engaged with the ongoing Suzuki exit saga as well as Marquez’s recovery journey.
