Honda rider Marc Marquez is set to return to MotoGP action at the Circuit of the Americas after having missed two races due to diplopia.
Marquez suffered a relapse of double vision – the third diplopia case of his career – after a heavy fall in Sunday warm-up at Mandalika.
However, Honda was clear from the get-go that this incidence was less severe than the two previous times he’d been diagnosed – which on both occasions had translated to a spell on the sidelines of multiple months.
This time, Marquez has already ridden a Honda CBR600RR at a local track, Circuit Alcarras, and subsequently received “clearance from his medical team” to head to COTA and seek to compete.
It means that – presumably pending the approval of the circuit medical staff – he should be back riding a MotoGP back this Friday, just short of 20 days after the Mandalika crash.
“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 are many things to do and consider, but the important thing is that we are back on the bike this weekend.”
Marquez has a phenomenal record at COTA, a track where he has won seven times in eight attempts – with his only defeat coming in a race where he crashed out while in a commanding lead.
His two-race absence has left him 15th in the standings, 34 points down on championship leader Aleix Espargaro.
