Source: Supply.

Two-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez isn’t hitting the panic button yet, but has reason for his clear concern after ending Thursday’s opening practice session of the 2016 season a lowly eighth in Qatar.

The Repsol Honda rider completed 15 laps during Free Practice 1, slotting in directly behind teammate Dani Pedrosa, with a best time of 1m56.258 on his final circulation. That placed him 0.818s off world champion Jorge Lorenzo.

“Today the 2016 season started for real,” Marquez reflected. “It was not the easiest FP1 I’ve ridden in, but we tried to improve gradually. The feeling was not very good, but we worked hard and we tried a lot of things out, so now we have to see what has changed between the test and today. We know that in Qatar the track conditions change a lot, so we will try to continue to evolve and get close to the top riders.”

MotoGP riders will be back on track today for a further two practice sessions in an extended schedule, before FP4 and qualifying take place on Saturday. The opening race will take place under lights on Sunday evening at the Losail Circuit.