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

But the weekend was ‘the worst of 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 witho👍ut speaking to the media.

“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 strugglin▨g and I was n𝓀ot able to finish the race.

“So not one of my best weekends.𒈔 Then here we need 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 expectations,” he said. “Also Sachsenring was a track that should be 🐼OK but in the end was the worst 🅠weekend of the calendar.

“Let’s see how I feel in FP1 be🔴cause also it’s a track where if you don’t have the feeling, you cannot push. Because it’s super fast. So step-by step.”