Marc Márquez is once again on the verge of a MotoGP comeback after a fourth operation on his right upper arm and a rehabilitation phase. After the Italian Grand Prix at the end of May, the Honda driver decided to take another break. He missed a total of six races.
After the two-day test at Misano, the green light was given for the comeback at MotorLand Aragon. “I understand that a lot of people are happy about my return, but I’m most happy myself,” says the eight-time motorcycle world champion.
“I hope it’s the definitive comeback because it’s almost the last chance for this arm. When I made the decision to have the surgery, I had already won because I had found more comfort in normal everyday life.”
“Now I’ll see if I can win in my professional life too. At Mugello I never expected to be here in Aragon or even to race this year at all. It’s all going well since the surgery. Step little by little I feel better.”
“Of course there is still a long way to go. I still have a lot of work to do to reach my goal. The Misano test was very positive. I finished the test physically in good shape. We have the recovery of my arm in the following days closely observed.”
“Of course I can fall. The bone is completely fine, now it’s about the muscles. They haven’t worked properly for two years. Now the muscles have to grow step by step. In winter we’ll see where the limit is. “
Maybe he needs to take a break after all
The comeback at Aragon is important because it’s a track that Márquez has always felt comfortable with. He has already won five times in the premier class on this Spanish circuit. But it is also the start of a tight program.
Because on the following two weekends, the overseas races in Japan and Thailand will take place for the first time since 2019. “I also have to be honest about my condition,” Marquez says. “I don’t think Aragon will be a problem.”
“But then we have to see. I don’t know. Three races in a row tires your muscles. I don’t know how my muscles will react. My goal is to finish all weekends. But now there are three races in a row.”
“Maybe I have to stop in Japan or in Thailand during the weekend. We don’t know. I’ve spoken to Honda and they understand the situation. But my goal is to finish all weekends and prepare well for 2023.”
Despite his long break, Márquez is still the top Honda rider in the Riders’ Championship. Can he be back in the top ranks right from the start – and at a track like Aragon that suits him so well?
“The chance of a podium is one percent,” he dismisses, emphasizing: “They are really very low. I’m still a long way from my best physical form. The bones are fine, but the muscles are still a long way from that where I want to go.”
Because on the one hand, Márquez continues the physical rehabilitation on the motorcycle. On the other hand, Honda is in a difficult situation: “Honda understood the situation and that we are far behind Ducati and Aprilia. We need the tools to be able to fight for the world title.”
New Kalex swingarm ready for action
A new aluminum swing arm from Kalex was therefore tried out in the Misano test. In recent years, Honda has gone for carbon swingarms. Honda is now working with an external partner. In the Superbike World Championship, the cooperation between BMW and Kalex works.
KTM also rode with Kalex swingarms at the beginning of the MotoGP project. “The swingarm works differently and the feeling is completely different,” reports Márquez from the Misano test. “It’s a different concept.”
Takaaki Nakagami also tested this aluminum swingarm in Misano. His feedback is also good: “After a few laps I felt something interesting. There wasn’t anything negative. I felt pretty good. It was very positive, to be honest.”
And will this swing arm now also be used in Aragon? “They told me I could try them here,” says Márquez. “But on Friday I’m not ready to test anything. We’ll see my level after the first training session.”
Nakagami is also hoping to try the swingarm at a different track. But on Thursday it was not yet clear in his case: “After the test I asked HRC if I can use it. But I don’t know when I will get it.”
From a technical point of view, for Márquez the remaining six race weekends are about preparing everything as best as possible for next year: “For me it’s like the start of the season.”
“We have no information about the front tyres, the bike doesn’t steer the way I want it to. That’s why we have no grip and no acceleration. The bike is better than last year. But the problem is that the others have improved even more. “