Motorcycledaily.com
Honda MotoGP star Marc Marquez has spent roughly 9 months recovering from a broken arm suffered at the opening round of last year’s MotoGP championship. As we reported, he was recently shown testing a Honda RC213V-S (which we mistakenly identified as a homologated superbike — instead, it features a V-4 engine and is, in essence, a street legal version of a MotoGP bike). This led to speculation that Marquez might attempt to return to racing as early as the opening round this year, which takes place next weekend in Qatar. Both Honda and Marquez are confirming that will not be the case.
HRC, the employer of Marquez, issued the following press release this morning indicating Marquez will not race this weekend. In addition, Marquez himself made a statement on Instagram confirming he will miss BOTH Qatar rounds, the opening two races this year. The statement posted on his Instagram follows the HRC press release.
HRC PRESS RELEASE:
Marc Marquez, together with his medical team from the Hospital Ruber Internacional, have considered it prudent not to re-join competition this weekend in Qatar.
In the review carried out on the Spanish rider by the medical team led by Doctors Samuel Antuña and Ignacio Roger de Oña, and made up of Doctors De Miguel, Ibarzabal and García Villanueva, 15 weeks after surgery for an infected pseudoarthrosis of the right humerus, a good clinical response has been found after the intensification of his training.
However, considering the time period and the current state of the bone consolidation process, doctors consider it prudent and necessary not to accelerate Marquez’s return to the track after such an inactive time, and to avoid putting the humerus at risk in intense competition. Marquez will undergo another medical check on Monday, April 12.
Marc Marquez
“After the last review with the medical team, the doctors have advised me that the most prudent thing was not to take part in the Qatar Grand Prix and to continue with the recovery plan that we have followed in recent weeks. I would have loved to be able to participate in the opening race of the World Championship, but we will have to continue working to be able to recover the optimal conditions that allow us to return to competition.”
MARK MARQUEZ INSTAGRAM STATEMENT:
“After the last check-up with the medical team, they have advised me not to participate in the two Qatar races so we will continue with the recovery to return to compete as soon as possible!”
