Could Marc Marquez make a shock return to racing this weekend?

Marc Marquez is reportedly considering a shock return to the racing in this weekend’s Andalusian MotoGP just three days after undergoing surgery on his fractured arm.

The six-time MotoGP World Champion went under the knife on Tuesday [21 July] after injuring his humerus bone in an accident during the closing stages of Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP.

Though it was originally feared he could be forced out of multiple events, a report in the Spanish El Periodico de Catalunya newspaper – and shared by the official MotoGP website - suggests Marquez hasn’t ruled out getting back on the Repsol Honda for this weekend’s Jerez re-run.

Marquez is understood to have been buoyed by the confirmation he hasn’t damaged his radial nerve, which would have complicated his recovery and potentially had lasting effects for his physical strength.

However, despite the report, Dr Xavier Mir – who operated on him at the Dexeus Hospital in Barcelona – told the MotoGP website that round three in Brno represents a more likely timeframe for his return.

“He’s feeling better than expected because we initially had some concerns about an injury to the radial nerve, which quite common when the humerus is injured like this,” Dr. Mir told the MotoGP website. “The truth is the nerve was very close to being damaged, but it wasn’t injured. 

“This allowed us to do an open reduction and internal fixation of a latest generation titanium plate to the right humerus that allows him to start his recovery from today. 

“He started with a cold therapy with a machine that reduces the hematoma and, when the machine is not connected he is doing recovery work on the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. 

“The truth is that, with no affectation to radial nerve, the door is only half opened to a return at Brno. But still, there remains the possibility of him riding there. 

“He is OK, upbeat, as always, with aims of competing with aims to trying to fight for this World Championship”