Marc Marquez may have been among the fastest riders on track during Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but the Ducati star insists his biggest challenge this weekend is managing his physical condition rather than chasing outright speed.
The six-time MotoGP world champion adopted a more cautious approach at Balaton Park as he continues to deal with the lingering effects of previous arm injuries and surgeries. While he pushed hard immediately after returning to competition at Mugello, Marquez admitted he is taking a more measured approach in Hungary.
According to the Spaniard, avoiding a major crash and preserving energy for the remainder of the weekend are currently his top priorities.
"I was more in control because I feel worse than at Mugello," said Marquez. "What I don't want is a big crash. I tried to manage everything and keep some energy in reserve for the next two days."
The demanding back-to-back race schedule has offered little time for recovery, and Marquez revealed that his physical condition has not improved since the previous round. Although the nerve-related issues that troubled him earlier have eased, he is now facing muscle limitations linked to the numerous surgeries he has undergone throughout his career.
"When you have seven surgeries on your arm, the muscles are affected, and we have to see how far they can go now," he explained.
Despite those concerns, Marquez still demonstrated his pace by topping the opening practice session. He eventually ended the day seventh overall as track conditions changed later in the afternoon.
His performance did not go unnoticed, with several rivals viewing him as a potential contender this weekend. Aprilia rider Jorge Martin even included Marquez among the favourites for Sunday's race.
Marquez, however, remains realistic about the challenge ahead. While he believes he can be competitive over shorter distances, he is less certain about maintaining that level across a full race.
"If the race is five laps, yes, I can be strong," he said. "The Sprint is around 14 laps, and that's where it becomes more difficult."
As the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend continues, Marquez faces a delicate balancing act between maximising his performance and managing the physical demands placed on his body. His speed remains evident, but whether he can sustain it over race distance could prove to be one of the key storylines of the weekend.
