MotoGP: Alberto Puig confirms that Marc Marquez will ride on Saturday

Repsol Honda’s team boss Alberto Puig has revealed that Marc Marquez will ride this Saturday after been given the all-clear to compete at Jerez.

Marquez passed his physical exam earlier today but will miss tomorrow’s free practice sessions. The reigning champion will then head out onto the circuit on Saturday to evaluate his physical condition and decide on whether to race or not. 

“Nobody expected to see him here,” Puig commented. “His surgery went spectacularly well. We knew that the doctor was good, but this was a fantastic job. After surgery, the rider started to feel very well and contacted us to say that he wasn’t so bad, he wasn’t carrying too much pain and could move his arm. 

“Originally, Honda’s position was to cancel this race and then try at Brno. However, after we saw Marc’s wish, we came to an understanding that he will try on Saturday and depending on how he is feeling, he will try the race. We asked him to check on Saturday first and to really understand if he is capable of doing the distance or not, in case it’s too risky.”

Having competed at Jerez last weekend, missing Friday’s sessions isn’t necessarily the worst thing for Marquez. 

“If it was a new track it would be more difficult, but we have been here racing for five days so we know the setup of the bike, and he knows exactly how to ride the bike at this track,” Puig added.

“There is no meaning in trying Friday and putting more stress on the injury. He will try Saturday and after that, we will see. It was very important for Honda and the Repsol Honda team to respect the rider’s wish. We get this compromise and then we’ll see the result on Sunday.”

Alongside Marquez, Cal Crutchlow was also given the green light to try and compete this weekend. Crutchlow had surgery on the same day as Marquez, to fix a scaphoid fracture. Puig was keen to stress that Honda don’t put pressure on their injured riders.

“I want to make it clear that Honda never push the riders to race. We always respect the rider’s condition and also their opinion. Of course, both Marc and Cal’s results are very important for us, but when a rider is 100% fit it’s true you can push them, when he’s not 100% fit you have to go one step back and see what he can do.”

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MotoGP: Marc Marquez cleared to race at Jerez this weekend

First published: 23 July 2020 by Josh Close

Marc Marquez has been given the all-clear to compete at this weekend’s Andalucian Grand Prix at Jerez.

The astonishing news comes just 48 hours after the Repsol Honda rider had surgery on his broken arm, an injury sustained in last Sunday’s season opener. Marquez suffered a huge highside whilst chasing down Maverick Vinales for second, after fighting his way back through the order from 16^th.

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The Spaniard hit the ground hard and was then hit by his own bike, leading to a fractured right humerus. Marquez flew to Barcelona and had successful surgery on Tuesday. Fortunately for Marquez, doctors confirmed that there was no nerve damage to his arm. A problem with his nerves could have been severe for Marquez’s future.

After his operation the best-case scenario given was for Marquez to return at Brno, round three of the 2020 championship. Some were even saying that the Spaniard wouldn’t return until round four at the Red Bull Ring.

However, rumours soon began to circulate that Marquez was going to try and race this weekend at Jerez. Now, he’s been given the go ahead after passing his physical exam at the circuit. 

Marquez’s side of the garage is set up and ready for him after his brother’s crew helped to put everything together. It remains to be seen which sessions Marquez will compete in, and whether or not he’ll end up sitting out the race after all. 

The main concern for the team will be that Marquez could potentially make things worse should he have another crash over the weekend.