Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez ended the first day of track action at the Sepang International Circuit ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix top of the pile, though missed FP2 thanks to a bad bout of gastroenteritis.
The Spaniard has been feeling unwell for the last few days but was still able to take part in free practice one this morning. Marquez managed a best lap of 2m01.210s to go tenths of a second clear at the top of the time sheets, and was over a second quicker than the next best Honda rider in that session. Despite setting a strong pace, the Spaniard felt even worse when he climbed off his RC213V at the end of the 45-minute session, the crippling heat of Sepang sapping him of energy.
Over the lunch break between FP1 and FP2, the heavens opened and saturated the circuit. With times not being beaten in the afternoon session, and with Honda foreseeing this beforehand, Marquez decided that it would be best to sit out FP2 and return to his hotel in order to recover ahead of qualifying tomorrow.
“In the morning I didn’t feel very well – I’ve had gastroenteritis for the last two days – but I was able to go out and ride even though I was not at 100 per cent,” he said.
“After the session and the effort I put in, I began feeling worse, because gastroenteritis also dehydrates you. Looking at the track conditions, we decided not to go out. Tomorrow we’ll try to improve and I think it has been good for me not go out there, and to instead save myself for Saturday and especially Sunday.”
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