until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will make his return to premier class competition in this weekend’s race at Aragon.
The 29-year-old has been sidelined since May’s Mugello race, having elected to go under the knife for a fourth time since his career-altering crash at Jerez in 2020.
The operation was successful, and Marquez made his return to riding a Honda RC213V in the two-day test at Misano after the race weekend at the venue. He completed over 100 laps in the test, finishing 13th-fastest.
Marquez would not commit to a race return immediately after the test, but it seemed increasingly likely when MotoGP released an Aragon weekend plan with him slated to do the Thursday press conference – and now he has officially confirmed his participation.
“Hello everyone. Big smile, as you can see,” Marquez said in a video accompanying the announcement by him and Honda.
“We will be in the Aragon GP – racing, of course. After talking to the doctors to the team, we have decided that the best for my recovery will be to continue it on the bike, adding kilometres for next year.
“Doing it at the Motorland Aragon GP, in front of all the fans, is priceless.
“I’m sure your support will cheer me up the whole weekend. Looking forward to Friday, to be on the bike and go full gas.”
Marquez has an excellent MotoGP record at Aragon, where he’s already scored five premier-class wins, but Honda has stressed “the objective for the weekend will be to continue improving Marquez’s bike fitness and assessing his performance during the intensity of a grand prix weekend and race”.
His return means Stefan Bradl, who has been Marquez’s ever-present stand-in, can finally stand down and focus on the test rider role that he indicated was being hampered by him having to race.
Marquez’s 2023 team-mate Joan Mir will likewise be back in the saddle at Aragon, making his return to MotoGP after a one-race absence forced by his violent crash at the Red Bull Ring.
Mir, who injured his right ankle in the accident, “has consulted with Dr. Juan Garcias and feels tentatively ready to return to action”, Suzuki said.
“It hasn’t been easy to miss a race and watch on TV at home!” Mir said.
“Finally, I’ve recovered well from the injury to my ankle, and I think my fitness will be at about 90% this weekend, which isn’t bad. I have already been able to try riding a motorbike a little bit to check the feeling, and although I have a bit of pain now, I think by Friday I will feel even better.
“I can hold my weight on that ankle, but obviously riding a MotoGP bike is a bit different! Anyway, I want to fight and give my best.”
Team manager Livio Suppo said the injury appears to have “healed well” and “all signs from the medics look positive”.
🚨Back on track!
🇬🇧🎙: ” I am very happy to return to the competition in Aragon, in front of all the home fans. It won’t be an easy GP, because I’m not fully recovered, but we will fight and give 110% to get the best possible result.”
— JoanMir36 (@JoanMirOfficial) September 13, 2022
