Marquez, who was content after the previous test at Phillip Island, explained that the sweeping corners at Losail meant the weakness of his Honda was exposed.

"Normally we are struggling in Qatar – and definitely we are struggling," admitted Marquez.

"Today, we struggled quite a lot. We are trying to work on some aspects of the bike, to try to improve.

"The positive thing we are at the circuit where we struggle [most] in the season.

"I worked more on the engine today, and [on Thursday] we will concentrate 100 percent on the chassis – and we must improve the balance of the bike. Try to give me again the confidence.

"The confidence was there in Phillip Island, but here again I lose quite a lot of confidence."

Identifying the problem

Marquez explained that his bike's recalcitrance to turn in the middle of long corners is the main problem they will attempt to solve this week.

"The main problem is mid-corner, turning and exit – entry of the corner is not so bad, but mid-corner is hard to turn and on the exit you use too much banking, because of the mid-corner," he said.

"Everything is related. We are trying to improve the turning, and then the exit.

"The thing is me and Dani were using a different chassis, and both of us have the same problem – also Cal [Crutchlow on the satellite LCR machine].

"We are trying to find the way."