The Repsol Honda team will be back to full strength on lap three as Pol Espargaro is assisted by Marc Marquez, who is returning after an injury.
Portimao made its debut on the MotoGP World Championship calendar in 2020, producing an exciting race and receiving praise from fans and riders alike. Three Hondas finished the race in the top ten, with both Takaaki Nakagami and Stefan Bradl battling for the podium and the top 5 for much of the race.
After falling and breaking his right upper arm during the Spanish GP on July 19, 2020, Marc Marquez faced a long recovery. The eight-time world champion approached his recovery with full commitment and, with the consent of his medical team, immersed himself in an intense physical regime. After Marquez assessed his condition on a Honda RC213V-S in Barcelona and Portimao, his medical team has now given him approval to race again.
Another medical examination will take place at the circuit before Marquez can get permission to reassemble his Repsol Honda Team RC213V. Despite missing the 2020 Portuguese GP, Marquez has ridden the 4.6-kilometer circuit on previous occasions, including a Honda RC213V-S on March 19. The goal of the weekend is for Marquez to return to the competition and complete a successful Grand Prix without unnecessary risks in order to start a fruitful campaign for 2021.
Pol Espargaro arrives in Portugal after two informative weekends in Qatar where he showed incredible pace aboard the Repsol Honda RC213V. In the third round of the 2021 World Championship, Espargaro will have the first chance to test the Honda on a circuit other than the Losail International Circuit. After a strong Portuguese race in 2020, Espargaro looks forward to expanding his understanding of the motorcycle. Constant improvements remain Espargaro’s focus for the weekend.