Marc Marquez will be back in racing action this weekend at the MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragon, it has been confirmed.
Marquez will ride a MotoGP bike on a race weekend at this weekend’s Grand Prix in MotorLand Aragon for the first time since humeral osteotomy in June following the Italian Grand Prix.
The news comes after Marquez rode a CBR600RR at the Aragon kart track in the week before the San Marino Grand Prix in Misano two weeks ago, and then the Honda RC213V MotoGP motorcycle at the post-race Misano test last week.
A Repsol Honda Team statement says: “After numerous check-ups, consultations and tests, all involved are satisfied with the recovery made and the #93 will now take the next step in his rehabilitation – returning to competition.”
Marquez also posted a video to his social media accounts which can be seen below.
Marquez has a fantastic record at Aragon. He won in 2013, and every year between 2016 and 2019, and has turn 10 at the circuit named after him.
As such, it would be understandable for expectations to be high for this weekend. Last year, with his arm in a state that did not allow him to ride comfortably, he was able to fight with Francesco Bagnaia for the victory, although Bagnaia beat him to the flag. With his arm in a better condition, perhaps a strong result is on the cards.
However, although it is Aragon, it will still be Marquez’ first race back after the surgery, meaning his MotoGP bike fitness will not be all the way there yet, and he has also not ridden for three consecutive days since the surgery- he did a lot of laps in the Misano test, but there were only two days.
Furthermore, and arguably more fundamentally, the Honda Marquez is returning to is not ready to be winning races. Marquez in the past has been able to make the difference, but that is more complicated when the competition have been racing for the past three months - and he hasn’t - and when the fitness is still being rebuilt.
About the objectives for this weekend, the Repsol Honda Team press release says, “The objective for the weekend will be to continue improving Marquez’s bike fitness and assessing his performance during the intensity of a Grand Prix weekend and race.”
