After breaking his arm in a fall at the 2020 MotoGP season opener in Jerez last month, Marquez underwent an initial operation two days after the injury. This led to a brave comeback attempt in the second run less than a week later on the Spanish course.
Despite completing FP3 and FP4 at the Andalusian Grand Prix, Marquez pulled back due to a swelling on his arm and was scheduled to return to action for the Czech GP. However, the panel attached to his arm had been damaged by stress while attempting to return to the Andalusia GP and broke when he tried to open a window in his home in Spain.
This required another operation to have a new plate attached, which excluded him from the Czech GP and the one-two in Austria. Marquez was then scheduled to return to the San Marino Grand Prix in September for the first of two races at Misano, followed by the Catalonia GP.
However, the recovery of his right arm after the second operation has been much slower than expected, and Honda has now confirmed that Marquez will be out for at least another two months.
“There has been a lot of talk about Marc’s recovery and the different deadlines, but from the first day after the second operation we said the only goal there is is that he can be one hundred percent,” said Alberto Puig, Honda- Team manager.
“We don’t want to rush. As soon as Marc is able to come back and compete at the level he is familiar with, we will start thinking about the next goal. “
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Although his chances of a seventh premier class title were slim, as Marquez currently has 67 points behind him, this prolonged absence has dashed all hopes for a championship in 2020.
HRC test driver Stefan Bradl, who stepped in for Marquez and the Austria double winner in Brno, will continue to represent the injured world champion in the Honda factory squad alongside his brother Alex Marquez.
Should Márquez’s recovery time be extended to two months, there is a possibility that he will be back on his Honda for the final triple header in Valencia and Portugal in November. However, due to the compressed nature of the season delayed by the coronavirus, there is a chance that Marquez will not start again this year.
After his first surgery, Marquez shared a video testing his arm in the gym (below).