Having dropped out of the 2020 season early on following a serious injury to his right arm, the absence of Marc Marquez has been glaring in the MotoGP world. The eight-time Grand Prix championship winner has been a mainstay on the top ranking for the last decade.
However, his expected return during the Qatar GP in MARCH this year proved a disappointment. Marquez was earlier seen speeding his way around the Barcelona and Algarve tracks aboard his Honda RC213V-S road bike. Though Honda reported that his return to training was going on well, his medical team did not seem enthusiastic about his ardour and advised he cut back. Advice he clearly chose to adhere to.
The absence of this Shoei-clad head on the Losail circuit during the opening rounds was a let-down as Marquez was reported to soon arrive in the city. This was however probable to be a come-and-go visit for purposes of getting vaccinated.
This seeming step backwards is not surprising given how events unfolded in 2020. After his first operation to treat his broken arm, an overzealous return to racing in Jerez led to further surgery and an infection that effectively put him out of the 2020 season. It is likely that this time Marquez will be more cautious to avoid a repeat of such setbacks.
Honda however seems optimistic about Marquez's racing form. In February, team boss Alberto Puig said he expected Marquez to “still find a way to be Marc Marquez”. He reiterated the full support the team continued to give Marquez and that they expected the strong competition within the team to help grow it. The addition of Pol Espargaro to their line-up is expected to boost this competitive spirit.
Pundits and fans also remain hopeful that Marquez will participate in the upcoming third round of races in mid-April in Portugal. An upcoming medical check-up on 12 April will likely be the determining factor.
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