MotoGP: Marc Marquez to make his return at the Americas Grand Prix

Published: 06 April 2022

Marc Marquez will make his MotoGP return this weekend for the Americas Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas.

The Repsol Honda rider missed the Argentina Grand Prix after being diagnosed with a third episode of diplopia (double vision) following his violent highside during the warm-up session for the Indonesian round one week prior.

Since then, Marquez has been sticking to his treatment plan and having medical check-ups with his team of doctors. After being given the go ahead by doctors to get back on a bike, Marquez spent yesterday (April 4) riding a Honda CBR600RR around the Alcarras circuit in Spain.

His findings from that private test were positive, and Marquez will now travel to America for this weekend’s race.

“Of course I am very happy to be back, it’s a great feeling to return and especially to do it at one of my favourite tracks,” Marquez said. “No matter the situation, I really enjoy riding in Texas and have incredible memories there.

“We have some work to do after missing two races and the whole Argentina weekend, so I am not here to set one target at the moment. There’s many things to do and consider, but the important thing is that we are back on the bike this weekend.”

Marquez’s record at COTA is nothing short of phenomenal. Since the inaugural race in 2013, Marquez has won all but one of the nine events. In 2019, Marquez crashed out of a comfortable lead, allowing Alex Rins to take victory for Suzuki. That victory meant that Rins had won at COTA in all three GP classes.

The American race was one of three victories for Marquez following his return to action this season, alongside the German GP at Sachsenring and Emilia Romagna GP two weeks later in Misano – following Francesco Bagnaia’s crash.

Despite missing two of the three opening races, Marquez is only 34 points behind championship leader, Aleix Espargaro. He’s only 24 points adrift of reigning champion Fabio Quartararo, and a single point behind pre-season favourite, Bagnaia.

This weekend’s MotoGP race is the second race of the day in Texas, getting underway at 19:00 (UK Time). It follows Moto2 at 17:20, and will be followed by the Moto3 race at 20:30.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez ruled out of Argentina with double vision

First published: 29 March 2022 by Josh Close

Marc Marquez will miss this weekend’s Grand Prix of Argentina due to his ongoing vision problems.

Marquez was diagnosed with a concussion and a third episode of diplopia (double vision) following his huge highside during the warm-up session for the Indonesian Grand Prix. He was thrown violently from his RC213V at turn seven, landing heavily on his right-side, as well as taking a knock to the head.

The Repsol Honda rider was consequently ruled out of the race, before experiencing problems with his eyesight on the way home to Spain. It was later confirmed that his diplopia had returned.

Marquez visited his ophthalmologist, Dr Sánchez Dalmau, at the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona yesterday (March 28) where he underwent his second medical check-up. Despite some improvements, Marquez will not be able to race in Argentina.

“The second neuro-ophthalmological evaluation carried out on Marc Marquez this past Monday has shown a very favourable evolution in the paralysis of the fourth right nerve affected by the fall that occurred at the Indonesian Grand Prix,” Dr Dalmau explained.

“Recovery is not yet complete, and Marc Marquez must follow the established therapeutic regime with conservative treatment.”

Marquez will undergo another check-up next week to see if he’s able to race at his beloved Circuit of the Americas next weekend (April 8-10). Marquez has seven wins at the Texan circuit and won there last year despite not being at 100%.

Currently, no replacement has been announced by Repsol Honda for this weekend. Usually, Stefan Bradl is called upon to replace an injured rider at HRC.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez diagnosed with new case of double vision following Indonesia crash

First published: 23 March 2022 by Josh Close

Marc Marquez has been diagnosed with a new episode of diplopia (double vision) following his huge crash at the Indonesian Grand Prix.

The Repsol Honda rider suffered a violent highside, his fourth crash of the weekend, at turn seven during Sunday’s warm-up session, which violently launched the Spaniard off his RC213V. Marquez hit the ground on his right side, and took a knock to the head. Marquez was visibly dazed as he stumbled away from his bike.

Following a trip to a local hospital, Marquez was ruled out of the race after being diagnosed with a concussion and several minor traumas. Any further, major injuries were ruled out after Marquez went through an “exhaustive medical examination and a CT scan.”

However, it has now been revealed by HRC that Marquez’s eye problems have returned. On his way back to Spain, Marquez began to feel discomfort with his vision. Following an emergency visit to hospital in Barcelona, it was determined by Marquez’s ophthalmologist, Dr. Sánchez Dalmau, that the diplopia had returned – caused by “a recurrence of paralysis of the fourth right nerve.”

Marquez suffered a concussion and struggled with his vision following a training accident in November, whilst his also suffered from diplopia in 2011 following a crash in Moto2 at Sepang.

“It seems that I am experiencing déjà vu… During the trip back to Spain, I began to have discomfort with my vision, and we decided to visit Dr. Sánchez Dalmau, who confirmed that I have a new episode of diplopia,” Marquez said on his social media channels.

“Fortunately, it is less severe than the injury I had at the end of last year. But now it’s time to rest and wait to see how the injury evolves. As always, thank you very much to everyone for your support!!”

Marquez has since undergone a general medical check-up to evaluate the bruises caused by the violent crash, as well as a brain MRI, which confirmed that no other injuries were sustained.

Marquez will undergo a new check-up next week to evaluate the injury and try and predict the estimated recovery period. With back-to-back race weekends on the horizon – Argentina and USA – it’s likely, at this stage, that the six-time premier class champion will miss both events.

Marquez hasn’t completed a full MotoGP season since 2019. His crash in the 2020 season opener at Jerez ruled him out for the remainder of that season, as well as the opening two rounds of 2021. Marquez then missed the final two races of last year due to a concussion and diplopia.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez completes positive test day at Portimao

First published: 17 January 2022 by Josh Close

Marc Marquez made his return to a Grand Prix racing circuit on Sunday and has reported “no major problems” with his eyesight.

Marquez completed 65 laps onboard the Honda Honda RC213V-S in Portugal, as he looked to assess how his eye would cope with high speeds and tiredness during the day. It was the first time he’d ridden on a circuit since winning Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Misano on October 24.

Marc Marquez speaks about his crash and motocross training return

The Repsol Honda rider is edging ever closer to a return to racing after suffering from a case of diplopia (double vision) as a result of an off-road training accident last November.

It’s the second time that Marquez has suffered from double vision, after suffering the same, career-threatening injury as a Moto2 rider in 2011. This episode ruled him out of the final two races of 2021, as well as the Jerez test.

A positive medical assessment last week allowed Marquez to return to cycling and motocross riding, before visiting Portimao.

Here’s @marcmarquez93 in his own words talking about what it was like to get back up to speed and enjoy the thrill again pic.twitter.com/mSEETm1AtL

— Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) January 17, 2022

“I am feeling very happy, first to be back on a bike at the track and also because we were able to confirm the sensations I had on a motocross bike here with the road bike,” Marquez said after his test. “It’s a great feeling, a feeling of relief because when I was riding, I didn’t have any discomfort with my vision. Since I haven’t ridden in so long, I did notice some physical areas where I’m missing a little bit, but this is just because I have not been able to have my usual pre-season.

“There’s a margin to improve but the positive and the fundamental take away from this test was to reconfirm the feeling we had when we first got on the motocross bike and to enjoy the good feeling of speed. I have completed an intense day of riding with long runs, I am very happy with the results.

“We have two weeks until testing begins in Sepang so I will take the opportunity to intensify my physical preparation and train on the bike.”

As explained to the media last Friday (January 14), Marquez will have further medical assessments on his eyesight before being given the go ahead to ride his RC213V MotoGP bike at the Sepang test on February 5-6.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez to be assessed again after HRC road bike test

First published: 14 January 2022 by Josh Close

Marc Marquez will be assessed by doctors after completing a test on a production bike on a Grand Prix circuit in order to see if he’ll be able to take part in the Sepang test.

The Spaniard has been riding a motocross bike this week after doctors confirmed a clear improvement with his vision after a case of double vision following an enduro bike accident last November.

Marc Marquez returns to two-wheeled training on his motocross bike

Marquez spoke to the media for the first time since that accident today, and was able to explain exactly what happened during that training exercise.

“I took my enduro bike and I was riding at a very small circuit close to my town with enduro world champion Josep Garcia, who I have a good relationship with,” Marquez explains to journalists. “I rode for 20 minutes and that’s when I said ‘ok, I’ll do two more laps before we go’. At that point, I crashed at a right corner, a highside, and hit my head on the ground – but I stood up and picked my bike up.

“I continued my enduro trip, arrived home and took a shower. Three hours later I started to feel something strange with my vision and head, so I phone my doctor and he told me not to panic. He suggested I wait for the first week as this may be normal, but after that week the problem was still there, and that’s when we told you.”

Marquez also defended the decision to go off-road training, stating that it can also be dangerous riding a production bike on circuits which aren’t at a Grand Prix standard.

“The risk is always there,” he added. “If you stay on your sofa, you will not have any risk and you will race every race, but you will not be the best in the world.”

The next stage for Marquez will be to test a Honda production bike, either on a CBR1000 or on the RC213V-S bike which he rode ahead of his return from his arm injury last year, on a Grand Prix circuit.

As things stand, it looks like Marquez will not require surgery, however he still won’t know if he’ll be fit enough to take part in the Sepang Test until his doctors have assessed his situation after riding at high speed around a physically challenging GP track.

“It looks like we don’t need surgery. If I’m riding the bike, it’s because I have perfect vision. I’m following the advice of the doctor and he now wants to see me at a GP circuit, at high speeds, alone, for a one-day test with a lot of laps to see if when I get tired, I have any problems or not.

“Me and my doctor need to evaluate all of these things before he can allow me to be at the test in Malaysia. From the moment I got injured, we’ve taken the conservative way. Taking it step by step, as time will fix everything. If time doesn’t fix everything, then I will need the surgery. But this time it looks like it’s working in a good way, and everything is good.”

After finding out the good news from his doctor, Marquez began cycling on the road before jumping on his motocross bike. As he said above, taking it step by step has been key, because an eye injury is a tricky case, even for doctors.

“The doctor didn’t say to me that it would be one month, three months, or six months. Even the doctors don’t know. It was trick, but step by step, it was coming better, but when you have this type of injury, everything is on the table; surgery, time, the possibility of not riding a bike. It was hard because you do not know your future.

” I want to do more days and I want to try at a GP circuit to see because I need to be 100% sure that when I start my pre-season, I will be fixed and ready to do a normal season.”

The Sepang test takes place on February 5-6.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez returns to motocross training following vision problem improvements

First published: 14 January 2021 at 08:28 by Josh Close

Marc Marquez is back on two wheels after doctors confirmed a clear improvement with his eyesight.

Marquez has been out of action since November after a training accident caused a severe concussion and a case of diplopia (double vision). As a result, the Repsol Honda rider missed Portimao and Valencia, as well as the official test at Jerez.

The story so far

Marquez ruled out of Portimao with concussion
Marquez misses Valencia and Jerez test
Positive update before Christmas

Diplopia is something that the Spaniard has had to battle before. Marquez’s career was left in real doubt at the end of 2011 as he struggled with vision problems following a Moto2 crash at Sepang.

However, as revealed in a statement from the team, things are looking much more positive this time around, and Marquez has returned to motocross training. Last night’s statement (January 13) read:

“Marc Marquez underwent a medical examination with Dr. Sánchez Dalmau last Monday to analyse the situation of his diplopia. The ophthalmologist confirmed a clear improvement in the vision of the eight-time World Champion.

“With this progress, the Repsol Honda Team rider received authorization to ride a motorcycle and motocross, the most demanding discipline possible in the world of two wheels, was chosen by Marquez and his team. After a three-month absence, the Spanish rider returned to riding at the Ponts Circuit (Lleida). After several runs his sensations and feelings on the bike were more than optimistic.

“The next step for Marquez will be to ride on a paved racetrack.”

And here’s what @MarcMarquez93‘s first day back on a bike in 2022 looked like.

The reaction at the end says it all! pic.twitter.com/jChGMzUocm

— Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) January 13, 2022

At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether Marquez will be ready in time for the first pre-season test of 2022 at Sepang. The two-day test takes place on February 5-6. However, following his medical breakthrough, Marquez will now be speaking to the media today (January 14) as part of HRC’s 2022 launch event.

The improvement in Marquez’s vision will come as a huge relief to Honda. Despite missing a total of four races in 2021, Marquez still ended the season as the best-placed Honda rider. Marquez finished seventh overall, 42 points clear of teammate Pol Espargaro in 12th.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez making progress following double vision treatment

First published: 22 December 2021 by Josh Close

A new statement from Repsol Honda has revealed that Marc Marquez is making favourable progress with his treatment and recovery for double vision.

The Spaniard was diagnosed with an episode of diplopia after suffering a severe concussion in a training accident ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao in November. As a result, Marquez missed the final two rounds of the year, and also the official test at Jerez – missing his chance to test the 2022 RC213V.

MotoGP: Vision problems rule Marc Marquez out of Valencia and Jerez test

First published: 9 November 2021 by Josh Close

Marc Marquez’s 2021 MotoGP campaign has come to a premature end after he was ruled out of the season finale due to vision problems.

The Repsol Honda rider missed last weekend’s race at Portimao after suffering a concussion in a training accident. However, Marquez has now revealed that’s he’s suffering from a new case of diplopia (double vision).

Marquez suffered from double vision back in 2011 after a Moto2 crash during practice at Sepang. The Spaniard suffered some trauma to his trochlear nerve, which caused paralysis of the superior oblique muscle. This controls the rotation of the eyeball in certain directions.

Plagued with vision problems for four to five months, Marquez was told by doctors that he may not be able ride again – with four or five practicians unable to guarantee a full recovery. Marquez underwent surgery to try and correct the issue and was fortunately able to return to action and win the Moto2 title in 2012.

In today’s statement from HRC, it was revealed that Marquez has continued to feel unwell following his off-road accident and that double vision has returned. Yesterday (Monday November 8), he was visited by phthalmologist Dr. Sánchez Dalmau at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, who examined him and performed the tests, which detected a new episode of diplopia.

“The examination carried out on Marc Marquez today after the accident that occurred has confirmed that the rider has diplopia and has revealed a paralysis of the fourth right nerve with involvement of the right superior oblique muscle,” Dr. Sánchez Dalmau explained.

“A conservative treatment with periodic updates has been chosen to follow with the clinical evolution. This fourth right nerve is the one that was already injured in 2011.”

Marquez also had to visit the medical centre to have his eyes cleaned at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone after some sand got into them following a big crash in practice.

Despite missing four races in 2021, Marquez will still end the year as the top Honda rider. The six-time premier class champion has won three races this season, at the Sachsenring, Circuit of the Americas and Misano.

It’s likely that Stefan Bradl will once again step in for Marquez, both at this weekend’s season finale and at the Jerez Test later this month.

MotoGP: Marc Marquez to miss Algarve Grand Prix following concussion

First published: 2 November 2021 by Josh Close

Marc Marquez will not take part in this weekend’s Algarve Grand Prix at Portimao after suffering a concussion in a training accident.

The Repsol Honda rider was diagnosed with “a slight head concussion” after a fall during some off-road training last Saturday. As a result, due to health and safety protocol, Marquez will be unable to race in Portugal.