Marc Marquez: Second on Qatar MotoGP grid 'crazy' after poor tests

Marc Marquez says the notion of challenging for pole position in the Qatar Grand Prix would have been "crazy" at the end of MotoGP pre-season testing

Honda had a mixed winter as it struggled to come to grips with the change to a new control ECU and Michelin tyres, paired with its own aggressive engine.

While Marquez felt he could "see the light" at the end of the final test day at Losail, he never expected that he would qualify on the front row a fortnight later, just 0.091 seconds from Jorge Lorenzo's pole.

"If you said to me this two weeks ago, I would say you are crazy," he said.

"Still we are not 100 per cent everything on all tyres, but we are working well and we have made a step.

"The feeling is coming back, which is important, and tomorrow for the race I think we can improve our level.

"I feel ready to fight for the podium and even if it is possible for the victory."

Marquez's weekend started with electronics problems on Thursday, but Honda was able to rectify that before Friday's practice sessions.

The two-time world champion actually lapped faster than Lorenzo in qualifying, but started his 1m54.2s lap "one second after the [chequered] flag" was shown.

He said that returning to his natural aggressive instincts, rather than the smooth style deemed beneficial on the new rubber, was also paying dividends.

"In pre-season I was smooth," he said.

"Then when you feel again the bike, when you feel that you are ready to push, riding in your style, my style is always try to push 100 per cent, trying to ride on the brake and brake late.

"Still we are losing on the acceleration, so for that reason I have to push a lot on the brake points.

"I know that maybe it's not the safest way to ride the bike, but I must ride like this if I want to stay on the level of Jorge, [Maverick] Vinales, Valentino [Rossi] and the Ducati riders."