MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez looks set to sit out Friday practice at the Andalucian Grand Prix despite being passed fit to ride today following his arm surgery on Tuesday.
Benefiting from MotoGP’s first ever double-header at Jerez thanks to the coronavirus-affected calendar, he will take the day off to fully recover before joining the event from practice three on Saturday morning.
Honda team boss Alberto Puig told the media of Marquez’s plan after his rider was passed fit to ride just two days on from having a plate inserted in his arm to repair the fracture sustained in his crash in last Sunday’s race.
“If it was a new track it would be more difficult, but we’ve been here testing and racing for five days,” said Puig.
“The set-up of the bike is right and he knows how to ride the bike on this track. There’s no need to ride it on Friday and to risk more stress.”
Even Puig admitted that he was surprised that Marquez was fit enough to race.
He said the plan Honda has put in place with the eight-time champion is a compromise to ensure that he’s safe and healthy.
“When the accident happened we were very worried, and of course he had to move to Barcelona for surgery,” said Puig.
“Speaking frankly, it went spectacularly well, which we didn’t expect – we know the doctor is good but it was a fantastic job.
“Afterwards the rider started to feel very good and he contacted us to say ‘ehh, I feel not so bad, I’ve not got a lot of pain.’
“The original Honda position was to cancel this race [for Marquez] and try in Brno, but after we saw Marc’s wishes and what the doctors said today when they declared him fit we came to an understanding position.
“The plan is to race on Sunday, but we’ve asked him to check on Saturday to make sure that he can do the distance.
“This is Honda’s plan to respect the rider’s wishes, and we’ll see what the results of Saturday are.”
FIM medical officer Giancarlo di Filippo was adamant that there were no doubts at all about Marquez’s fitness given the outcome of the tests.
“As is his right, he asked to be checked after 48 hours,” di Filippo told the official MotoGP website.
“And he did all the tests required for the medical, in an excellent way.
“He was able, absolutely, to do this. And so, we checked and for our point of view, for sure he’s fit. He’s fit for this event.”
Asked where Marquez was on a 0-100% fitness scale, di Filippo replied: “He’s a professional and a champion. If he’s not able to continue or if any kind of problem will come, he will stop.
“But for sure, at the moment, all the tests were positive, no pain, not any kind of suffering.
“From our point of view, from the medical point of view, he’s fit.”
