Call Quartararo And Bagnaia Favorite Competitors This Season, Marquez: They're Fast

Marc Marquez (Instagram @marcmarquez93)

JAKARTA - Repsol Honda team racer Marc Marquez named Fabio Quartararo and Francesco Bagnaia as two racers who will appear very fast this season.

"Right now I can't say who the favorite competitor is, but of course I can name five names," Marquez said in a virtual presentation of the Repsol Honda team on Tuesday, quoted by Antara.

"The two riders who will be very, very fast are Quartararo and Bagnaia. These two riders raced very well last year, especially Bagnaia finished in a good way.

Quartararo secured his first world title at the Misano Circuit when Bagnaia crashed and failed to complete the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

The Ducati rider meanwhile has the right to be the runner-up in the final standings.

Meanwhile, 2021 marks the return of Marc Marquez to winning ways after 581 days since his last victory.

He won three wins last season even though his right arm has not fully recovered since falling in the 2020 season opener at Jerez.

Marquez is also currently recovering after suffering from diplopia or double vision for the second time, ending his struggles in the 2021 season early.

However, the injury did not dampen the ambition of the six-time MotoGP world champion to fight in his tenth season in the Repsol Honda uniform.

"My goal this year is to try to fight to win this championship," said Marquez.

"We have started the season well in Malaysia and now we will prepare for the test in Mandalika and continue our preparations."

The teams and riders are now in Lombok for the pre-season test at the Mandalika Circuit on February 11-13 after completing two days of testing last weekend in Sepang, Malaysia.