The short sleeves of the Repsol Honda polo shirt cannot completely hide the scar on Marc Marquez’s right arm. The Spanish master returned after months of absence to speak to the press, explain his physical condition, goals and the events of the past few months.
Everyone is wondering when they will be returning to racing and Marquez has tried to come up with an answer.
“At the moment I have no exact idea when I’ll be back, but I’m optimistic – he explains – My goal was to take part in the Qatar test, but I won’t be there. So my second goal is the first race in Qatar. “
Is that a realistic goal?
“In mid-March I will have another medical check-up to assess the bone consolidation, and the doctors will decideIf you give me the okay, I’ll continue with rehabilitation. Logically, I’ll only get on a MotoGP bike when I’m in acceptable physical shape, even if I had permission today I wouldn’t.
“I have three goals: to get back on the bike, have fun and be the same Marc Marquez again.”
This incident will affect your attitude towards racing …
“At the moment my first goal is to get back on the bike, the second to have fun and the third to be the same Marc Marquez as always. I told the doctors to give me the okay to ride when my arm is ready to take another fall. When I get back on the bike, I’ll take my risk on the track, my style will always be the same, even if not from the beginning, it will take time “.
What did you teach in 2020?
“It didn’t do me a lot of positive things (laughs), but I learned something. That said, the most important thing sometimes is not to get back on the bike as quickly as possible. We made a mistake when we decided to race in Jerez and we have to accept that. That was the only lesson, the rest was just a mess (laughs) “.
“We were all wrong, I don’t point my finger at anyone”
Whose fault was it?
“The decision was made by everyone together, I always talk about the team when I win and you have to do that in this case too. The final decision was up to me, but if the doctors tell you you can do it then you give it a try, you know how we are drivers. I felt able to do it, but it wasn’t what my body needed. I don’t want to point my finger at the doctors, in the past a lot of riders took risks, if all goes well it is said that it is a miracle that riders are not people. Now I can say that in the event of an injury I might not take the same risks in the future, but nothing would have changed if it had been in Brno instead of Jerez, the bone hadn’t healed in such a short time. To come back to the question: who was wrong We were all wrong together. I realized that in some cases, it’s best to stay calm, have different opinions, and then evaluate them.
Dr. Costa was annoyed that you didn’t accept his help …
“I have a good relationship with him, I really appreciate him for everything he’s done for motorcycling. In the last few months there has been a lot of speculation and sometimes without knowing the reasons for certain decisions. For example, Dr. Costa said they should have used a screw rather than a plate to hold the bone in place, but they couldn’t. Doctors had made it clear that this was the best solution, but not feasible as I had problems with my muscles and tendons after the shoulder surgery. Unfortunately, I was unlucky because of the infection, without which I would have recovered. I consulted with many doctors and then chose the best solution for me and my arm, I had an operation in Madrid because I also needed a change in my head. Dr. However, I still have my medical officer, if I should get injured tomorrow I would call him “.
It was also believed that there was a problem with the radial nerve …
“Luckily I never had nerve problems, it was the pseudarthrosis that did not allow the bone to heal. Unfortunately it was such a minor infection that it did not appear in the analysis, which is why I was operated on in December and not before ”.
“The most difficult time was between September and October, but I never thought that I would not be able to race anymore”
How did you experience these months?
“Of course it was also mentally tough. The most difficult moment was between September and October when the arm did not improve, I had the feeling that something was moving inside. I continued to take tests but they were negative and the doctors told me to wait. Then I had the third operation, was in the hospital for 10 days and from that moment on I felt improvements. But I was always optimistic I never thought that I would no longer be able to race, only about when I could return ”.
Have you been on a motorcycle?
“No, only for the team photos, standstill, if it moves under the leathers, it’s not me. If the doctors allow me, I’ll do it. The most important thing is that the bone strengthens, then I have to continue with rehabilitation, there are muscles that I haven’t trained since July. When I do my first race, it will be like starting testing before the season for me. I have regained my right arm mobility, but the strength is low and the doctors told me not to use more than two or three kilograms for the exercises. I have more or less 20% of normal strength ”.
How do you imagine your first Grand Prix?
“It will be impossible to be the Marc Marquez from before in one day. So I say my first goal is to have fun and then be quick. It will be a process to be followed ”.
“My favorite for the title is not me, it’s not my war at the moment”
Do you feel the pressure?
“I’m the one who puts pressure and sets goals. Honda and the sponsors showed me a lot of respect, telling me to take the time my body demands of me. I have a 4-year contract with Honda so the goal is to win four titles, if that is not possible this year I will try to win the other three. “
Told me that you would remain the favorite …
“I’m happy, but the favorites are the others, I can think of a lot of names and certainly Joans, he is the champion and he has to defend the title. This is not my war at the moment, mine is getting back on my bike ”.