Doohan won the 500cc world championship five times between 1994 and 1998, which ended in a serious broken leg after a career-threatening accident in Assen in 1992, which had to be amputated at times.
The Australian’s difficulties have been compared to Marquez’s own struggles, with the six-time MotoGP World Champion losing the entire 2020 season to a broken right arm and spending nine months on the sidelines after three surgeries.
Marquez has struggled with the force in his right shoulder since returning to Portugal in April, forcing him to adjust his driving style in unnatural ways.
While refusing to reveal what exactly was being said, Marquez found that his conversation with Doohan in Mugello last weekend had come in handy.
“We have the opportunity to talk to Mick, and it was interesting, also important for me,” said Marquez when asked at the Catalonia GP on Friday. “Maybe one day I’ll explain what we were talking about.
“But it was a very nice conversation and we talk together and it’s good to know your experience.
“It helps me and I really appreciated all of Mick Doohan’s advice because he’s one of my heroes and has come through a similar situation.
“I was like a kid in school just listening and trying to remember everything he said.”
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Marquez finished 15th in Barcelona on Friday as he continues to struggle with his arm in certain parts of the track.
However, he admitted that his physical condition was much better on Friday than it was after the first day at Mugello last week.
“About the arm, for example today when I started, of course I tried not to think about the arm,” he explained.
“But I immediately feel two or three points on the track where I had to adjust my position. Here, for example, there are curves 3, 4 and the last two curves, because it is going downhill.
“At the end of the straight, for example, where there is a hard braking point, I have no restrictions. I can brake where I want and I can have my driving style.
“But if the bike moves a little, wobbles a little out of the corners, then of course I can’t control well.
“But it’s true that I feel a lot better compared to Mugello Friday and Montmelo Friday.
“The result is the same, but the general body feeling was better.”