Marquez MotoGP on-track recovery amid treatment for double vision

Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marquez has been out of action since suffering vision problems after suffering a concussion in a practice crash ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix in November.

The 28-year-old missed the last two races and the post-season test after being diagnosed with double vision – diplopia – in one of his eyes. Marquez injured the same eye nerve in a Moto2 crash at Sepang in 2011, which initially threatened to jeopardize his racing career.

Repsol Honda has provided an update on Marquez’s condition, stating that he is “making reasonable progress with the diplopia diagnosis” after two months of treatment.

While the statement doesn’t announce an exact date for Marquez’s recovery, it does confirm that he is stepping up pre-season preparations to be physically fit for the 2022 campaign. Action on the MotoGP circuit begins next year with a shakedown test at Sepang from January 31st to February 2nd, before an official test, which Marquez would attend if available, on February 5th to 6th at the venue of the Malaysian GP takes place.

“The Repsol Honda Team rider, who was diagnosed with an episode of double vision after a crash during practice for the Portuguese GP last October, has continued to visit his trusted ophthalmologist regularly to monitor his vision development over the past two months judge.” read a team statement.

“During these reviews, the progress made was deemed favorable and Marquez will continue on a conservative treatment plan for the next few weeks.

“Marc Marquez will continue to have regular check-ups with Dr. Undergo Sanchez Dalmau.

“The situation does not prevent the driver from Cervera from continuing his training plan to prepare physically for a new season.”

During last month’s Valencia GP, Honda MotoGP boss Alberto Puig said both the team and the rider needed to be patient and positive given Marquez’s delicate recovery.

“It’s not that easy to know how a nerve or an eye can react,” said Puig.

“But the doctor was positive and of course he mentioned that we have to be patient because it’s not like you’re going to fall and sit down [in] a plate and race next week.

“This is more serious and will take some time. Of course I want to be confident, I’m not a doctor, but I hear what the doctor said and of course we have to think positively.”

Marquez missed a chance to ride Honda’s 2022 MotoGP bike at the Jerez post-season test in November due to his condition.

His current injury marks another blow in two miserable years for the Spaniard after effectively missing the entire 2020 season after breaking his arm in the opening race at Jerez, which required multiple surgeries and also forced him to miss winter testing and suspend the opening two rounds of this season.

Marquez made an encouraging comeback in 2021 with three wins before being sidelined from the last two races this year.

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