WATCH: Alex Marquez crashes eight laps into Honda MotoGP career

Alex Marquez’s keenly watched step up to the MotoGP class at Valencia got off to an inauspicious start when he crashed just eight laps into his first outing on the Honda RC213V.

Less than 24 hours after Repsol Honda confirmed he would be replacing Jorge Lorenzo on the title-winning RC213V and racing alongside his brother Marc Marquez for the 2020 MotoGP World Championship, the younger Marquez was out on track in Valencia sampling the 2019-spec machine for the first time during the post-season test.

However, it wasn’t the start he was ultimately hoping for when on his eighth lap he lost the front-end at turn ten and careered into the gravel trap. Though unhurt, the Honda entered a series of barrel-rolls before coming to a rest sporting damage.

By contrast, Marc Marquez is already under the Valencia lap record with a 1m 30.752s riding the 2019 spec machine, though rubbered in conditions and warmer temperatures are likely to assist faster times today.

He has now shifted over to the 2020 Honda RC213V where he will attempt to get close to the reference point of the 2019 bike.

Alex Marquez makes the unexpected move into MotoGP after winning the 2019 Moto2 World Championship with Marc VDS. Prior to his fall he'd turned in a 1m 35.422s lap as he steadily got himself up to speed.

UPDATE: Stefan Bradl mirrors Marquez with an almost identical crash at the same bend

Turn 10 catches out another rider! @HRC_MotoGP test rider @stefanbradl also hits problems! #ValenciaTest | #2020awaits pic.twitter.com/w2HrdMJ0XO

— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) November 19, 2019