After a badly broken right arm and required three surgeries at last year’s Spanish GP, Marquez has struggled with a lack of strength in his right shoulder since returning to Portugal in April.
The six-time MotoGP world champion admitted on Thursday in Austria that his training regime was “normal” again during the summer break and that he felt physically better than in Assen after he had ridden more motorcycles in the five weeks of the break.
Marquez finished sixth overall of the combined times at the Red Bull Ring on Friday, admitting that he thought his physical condition would be better than it was.
“The summer break and the weeks I was able to train were good for me both physically and mentally,” said Marquez.
“But I honestly thought the improvement step would be bigger.
“As soon as I went to FP1, I felt a little uncomfortable and realized that I would have to be on a MotoGP bike to improve my injury.
“I can do flat track, motocross, CBR, a thousand trips to the gym, but until you get on the racing bike you don’t simulate the movements exactly, and there are certain muscles that were better at Assen than they are today.
“So I’m saying that I thought the step forward in recovery would be bigger.”
He added: “The best wasn’t as expected and that was a blow to me because I wasn’t expecting it, but we have to keep going and be patient.
“Despite everything, I wasn’t slow, I had an acceptable level, but not what I’m looking for, you always want more and you’re looking for perfection
“We need to keep working to understand what is going on.
“In FP1 I felt very bad at the first start and then I got better and better and I think that’s a positive point.”
On Friday, Marquez also shared his initial thoughts on the announcement of arch-rival Valentino Rossi’s resignation on Thursday, admitting that MotoGP will lose “the majority” in late 2021.