After that, we can decide if it’s time to really go on the attack,” he said.
During Friday practice, he limited track time after securing a top-ten lap time.
“The target was top 10, and when I saw that the lap time was acceptable, I just hit the box,” he said.
He described the circuit as “too fast, and too fast to change directions - and too narrow,” adding that small mistakes can be costly.
“I'm not riding comfortably, but I'm riding okay.”
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Marquez noted that the gravel traps feature large rocks, increasing the risk of injury in crashes. “Here, the gravel is painful.
So, you need to take care,” he said.
He admitted hoping for rain to reduce risks, but dry conditions are forecast.
“It's that kind of circuit that I hope for some rain, but it will not be the case this year, and yeah, try to survive,” he said.
After the Sprint, Marquez stated that seventh place on track—later promoted to sixth due to a penalty for teammate Pecco Bagnaia—was his maximum.
“I cannot do more,” he said.
He acknowledged that Aprilia holds a performance advantage at Assen.
“We already know the strong points of Aprilia, and we know that circuits like Holland… they are stronger than us,” he said.
Looking ahead to Sunday's main race, Marquez expects a similar result. “Same as today.
Try to finish in that 7th, 8th position and that's it,” he said.
He stressed that accepting his limitations prevents frustration. “I’m doing my 100%, but I cannot do more now.
In this circuit, we need to understand that. And no frustration because it's what I expect,” he said.
Meanwhile, teammate Francesco Bagnaia expressed confidence, citing his strong history at Assen and the bike's performance.
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“I love this track, I’m happy with how the bike feels this year, and if we can take another step compared to Brno, I think we can fight for the win,” Bagnaia said.
