Marquez: 'Boring, painful' winter - 'title fight or failure'

Having opted for shoulder surgery after the final MotoGP test of 2018 at Jerez, Marc Marquez gave an update on his physical condition during today's Repsol Honda team launch in Madrid.

The reigning five-time world champion revealed that the procedure, to fix the dislocations in his left shoulder, had been " aggressive, complicated" and "a bit worse than we were all expecting" with the Spaniard in unrelenting pain for several weeks.

"It's been one of the most boring winters in my life!" Marquez joked. "But yes, I had to sacrifice this winter to recover and I want to thank the effort from everyone, but especially from my physiotherapist because he's been there 24 hours a day.

"In the beginning it was a bit complicated actually, the operation was a bit worse than we were all expecting, including myself. It was very aggressive and the recovery, even if you are trying to put all the effort, your body requires certain time and that's what we are trying to respect right now."

Marquez, joined on stage by new team-mate Jorge Lorenzo as well as past Repsol champions Mick Doohan and Alex Criville, added:

"I've had injuries before and they hurt but you always improve. But for a couple of weeks it really, really hurt. For me to say 'no, no, I'd rather stay here at the hospital for a few more days' - I couldn't see myself at home.

"So it was a complicated surgery, but we are almost ready. I can go to gym and start to put some strength in my muscles."

It's especially important that Marquez is as fit as possible for Sepang, with Lorenzo has been ruled out of the test by his recent wrist fracture.

"I want to be ready for Malaysia because we are both injured! So it's important for us to try the new parts etc, somebody has got to do it!"

Responding to the 'favourite' tag for 2019 and 'dream team' label being applied to Repsol Honda this season, with Marquez and Lorenzo boasting twelve MotoGP world championship, the #93 warned:

"Being in this team means fighting for victories, podiums and the championship. If not, it's actually failure. You can talk about 'dream team' or whatever but the results are what's important. So we hope we can celebrate something beautiful at the end of the year."

"So [being called a dream team] is great if you make [the title] at the end of the year, but if not…"

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Marquez also reiterated that he has no motivation to change team, having been with Repsol Honda since his 2013 MotoGP debut.

"I'm in the best team, my 'dream team', and I have no reason to change. Especially the family, this togetherness that we have and the relationship with Honda and Repsol."

A sixth premier-class title would move Marquez clear of Doohan, with only Valentino Rossi (seven)and Giacomo Agostini (eight) ahead.