• MotoGP Thailandౠ, Buriram - Friday Practice Results

Martin trailed championship leader Francesco Bagnaia by 27 points heading into this weekend’s Th♉ailand MotoGP, and is the in-form rider with eight races (includꦜing sprints) remaining.

Martin’s Pramac Ducati teammate - who won his first premier classꦰ race last weekend in Phillip Island - was asked if his bosses had issued any te🎶am orders.

“Not yet, no,” he said.

“M🍰artin i♐s so fast. Even with the first today, he got a pretty fast lap.

“Almost, h𝓡e can race without taking care of me. At the mome𓆉nt he is very fast and he can be fast whenever he wants.

“No, there is no discussion between riders, or any🌊 indication from [team manager Gino Borsoi] to us, or to me.”

'18 riders within five-tenths is rare'

Zarco was 🐲fourth-fastest in Friday practice at Buriram.

His title-chasin𝓀g teammate Martin toppedဣ both sessions.

Zarco said:🃏 “I am so happy to be in fourth position because 18 riders within five-tenths is rare.

“It’s the nicest view o🌞f the category, it’s tough.

“In the morning, I was not worried,♏ but I couldn’t find the right feeling on the bike🎃.

“It was too d🦹ifficult under the bike. The rear grip was missing a lot. In the🧔 afternoon I did not start so well but then we made progress on the second and third run.

“After we put on the new tyre, it bega▨n to run pretty well.

“I’m very happy for this big step in practi🌠ce. It makes me feel pretty good. It’s been a long time since I got so much progress, from non-competitive💛 to super-competitive.

“I kn✤ew what was💯 not going well and we touched the right thing in the afternoon.

“If we can have another step, I willꦕ have a good chance to fight for the top𝕴 three.”