MotoGP leader Marc 🃏Marquez is expecting Repsol Honda to pose a greater threat for Ducati in front of its home supporters at the Italian MotoGP in Mugello despite struggling ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚin recent years.

The five-time MotoGP World Champion has an indifferent record at the high-speed Mugello circuit, winning only once in the premier class back in 💫2014, while he hasn’t stood on the podium since 2016.

By contrast, rivals Ducati have enjoyed great﷽ success at their local track, with Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo notching up wins in 2017 and 2018 respectively, a run of form rivals are tipping the Borgo Panigale-based♐ manufacturer to repeat again in 2019.

However, Marquez – who comes into the weekend eight points clear of Dovizioso at the top of the MotoGP stand𝓀ings – is keen to point out the reason why the Repsol Honda has been on the back foot previous years, namely front♑ tyre management, is a substantial improvement on the new RC213V.

“In 2017 and 2018 I was struggling a lot to manage the front tyre, but this year the allocation has changed so it should be a lot better," he said. "Plus, we are able to manage them in a different way, so we will try to be competitive from the beginnin🍬g and then analyse the opponents.

“From Qatar until Le Mans we keep improving, so we arrive at Mugello with a very good f🍎eeling. The way to ride the bike now, I feel good. We know Mugello is one of the tracks where we have struggled at in the past but we have had very🌠 good races too. Last year we had good pace, but we crashed in the race.”

“We know here is important for Ducati and for the Italian riders, they will lik🥃e to win the race… it’s an impoღrtant thing for them.”