MotoGP, Marquez: "Racing at Jerez would have jeopardized my career"

There’s no denying it. The press conference – or media scrum to use Honda terminology – with Marc Marquez was the most highly anticipated event of the day, if not the entire weekend, without wanting to take away from the track action of course. The Spaniard is the current star of MotoGP, despite having been absent more than he’s been present over the last 33 months.

His absence at Jerez has everyone talking but Marc was keen to clarify what’s going on. “I’d have liked to be talking as a rider ready to go out on track”, commented Marc, “also because this is a special race for me. I’ve tried to recover but the doctors immediately told me 6-8 weeks, while I tried to do it in four. I’ve seen three different medical teams, all of whom told me that it would be madness to race.”

Marquez and the risk of retirement

The Honda rider speaks sincerely, going into detail about his injury and highlighting that any additional injury could prove very serious.

“If I go out on track, I want to be able to take risks, and I couldn’t do that here. The problem is not a possible crash, but the pressure on the handlebar when braking, which could have jeopardized the surgery. It was a necessary decision, regardless of my age, as I’d have been risking my entire career”.

Marc will also be forced to sit out testing, scheduled for the Monday following the Jerez race. Marquez has clear ideas about the test and the Honda riders who can be trusted to continue with the development work.

“It was a pity to miss Termas and Austin, just as it is to miss Jerez and the tests, but Honda can count on two fast riders in the shape of Rins and Mir. When will I be back? There’s a good chance I’ll be at Le Mans, but the check-up on the Tuesday prior to that weekend will be key. Right now I have no trouble staying motivated, but it’s harder to have the same willpower as before – that’s what allows you to spend hours on your training and everything, but passion helps me make it possible.”

In conclusion, the Spaniard touches on the issue of the penalty, one that is not yet resolved.

“I haven’t followed it closely, though it seems strange. I accepted the penalty and was in agreement, then things changed and Honda made an appeal. For a rider, the biggest penalty is to be home due to injury, so this is what’s bothering me the most. Why the appeal? The penalty should have been that which was put down in black and white in the beginning”.