Honda announced on Monday that Marquez would not make his long-awaited MotoGP return after an injury at the GP opening the season in Qatar this weekend after being advised against it by his doctors.
Marquez then announced his absence would extend to the Doha GP. The Spaniard was due to be re-examined by doctors on April 12 before the Portuguese GP.
Honda has now confirmed that 2011 Moto2 World Champion Bradl will take Marquez’s place again, having been his deputy since last year’s Czech GP.
“First of all, I would like to thank HRC and wish Marc all the best for his further recovery,” said Bradl.
“We had a good test and after a busy 2020 and a good start to 2021 I did well.
“Hopefully we can have another strong weekend and gather good information for Honda.
“It will be great to race in Qatar again. It’s been a while since I’ve raced there, but the two tests kept me updated with the track so I don’t think that’s going to be a disadvantage for us.
“Let’s start the season.”
Bradl performed dual duties during the 2020 season and continued his testing work for HRC while participating in the abridged racing calendar.
He ended the season with a best result of seventh place in the Portugal final.
Bradl’s preseason was very busy. The German ran a series of private tests for Honda last week and ran in the Qatar test.
His enormous track time this year has upset some as it has been known for some time that Bradl Marquez would be the deputy should Honda need him.
Rumors surfaced late last year and at the beginning of 2021 Andrea Dovizioso, who had been ousted from his Ducati seat at the end of last season, was able to take on Honda as a replacement for Marquez at the beginning of the season.
However, Honda eventually put those rumors to bed and confirmed that Bradl would again be his option.
Last week Aprilia announced it would run Dovizioso on his RS-GP in a private three-day test in Jerez on April 12th and 14th.
Stefan Bradl, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images