MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez’s arm injury from his Spanish Grand Prix crash could be worse than first thought, with potential nerve damage alongside the bone fracture.
Marquez had a violent high-speed fall at the Turn 3 left-hander late on as he chased Maverick Vinales for second, having already fought back from 16th to third after an earlier trip through the gravel at the same place while trying to break away in the lead.
The Honda rider suffered major damage to his arm when he was struck by the front wheel of his RC213V as they both tumbled through the gravel trap.
“Marc Marquez has suffered an injury it seems from a direct impact of the tyre to the right arm,” said MotoGP traumatology specialist Dr Xavier Mir, “resulting in a fracture to the shaft of the humerus, a complete fracture, although it isn’t completely displaced, with some possible paralysis of the radial nerve, although we’re not certain.
“This injury has been immobilised here for when they decide to move him to Barcelona to carry out a definitive treatment.”
While the extent of his injury remains to be seen, it could be the defining moment of the 2020 season.
Mir’s mention of nerve damage could well be the primary concern, with The Race’s sources in the MotoGP paddock already hearing rumours that, despite a statement released by Honda playing down the situation, it could be a very severe injury.
The radial nerve in the right arm is in control of the muscle actions that allow riders to open and close the throttle of a motorbike.
Should the paralysis there indeed be severe and persist after treatment, there could be long-term implications for Marquez’s career.
It is already a huge blow for his title hopes given the compressed 2020 MotoGP calendar, with 12 races squeezed in between now and November following the delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sometimes things don't go as you expect but the most important thing is to get back up and move on. I hope you enjoyed the comeback! Now I'll have an operation to fix the fracture of my right humerus. I promise you all that I will come back as soon as possible and even stronger💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/5FCIamVZLx
— Marc Márquez (@marcmarquez93) July 19, 2020
MotoGP medical director Dr Angel Charte said it’s impossible right now to put a timeline on recovery.
“Tomorrow Dr Mir will leave for Barcelona to proceed with treatment – if there is no more news regarding the tissue, to surgically treat the humerus,” said Dr Charte.
“That being said, we can’t say in any absolute terms if he will be at the next race or Brno or Austria.
“It’s not the moment, we’ll talk about it next week.”
