Marc Márquez will not ride at Austin. This is the decision that the rider has taken together with his medical team at the hospital in Madrid, Repsol Honda and HRC after the latest CAT scan.
And so the king of Austin will not take part in 'his' race after dominating it every year from 2013 to 2018. The long lap penalty he was given following the Portimao incident is also deferred as a result, the MotoGP Stewards Panel yet to respond following an appeal by team HRC.
The Repsol Honda release
The team’s press release reads as follows: “Following a final CAT scan, Marc Márquez and his medical team, led by Dr. Ignacio Roger de Oña, at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid have confirmed the first metacarpal is still in the healing process. After close collaboration with the Repsol Honda Team and HRC, all involved have elected to let the injury fully heal and avoid any unnecessary risks. Márquez will continue to work through his rehabilitation program at home in order to return at full fitness as soon as possible”.
We remind you that Márquez fractured the first metacarpal on his right hand in the incident with Miguel Oliveira.