It has been two races since Marc Márquez (Repsol-Honda Team) re-joined the World Championship following surgery on his right arm in June. This week, the sixt-time MotoGP champion has taken stock of his first impressions in an interview organised by his sponsor Estrella Galicia 0,0. 

After finishing in fourth place in Motegi and in fifth place in Buriram, are you optimistic about your chances of being fully competitive on your return to the competition? 

“Well, the important thing is that the evolution has been very positive and that is what we were hoping for in this case. Firm steps have been taken, we have managed things well and, above all, I have felt competitive in this last race in Thailand, both in the dry and in the wet”.

“More than competitive, I found that I could now “play with the bike” and this is good because I haven’t been able to do that for a long time. From here to being 100% competitive there is still a bit to go. I think we have to see if my arm is 100% healed by winter, which is when the recovery process might get a little bit more stagnant”. 

What specific sensations or aspects of your performance in Japan and Thailand tell you that you are in a position to be competitive and what other aspects do you think you are still lacking?  

“What gives me the most hope is that, as soon as I jumped on both the practice bike and the MotoGP, I immediately felt that the speed was still there. Still, this is not enough to be competitive in the World Championship”.

“Now, seeing that the arm is healing as planned, what I lack more than anything is strength and resistance. My strength is getting better and better, but my resistance still needs improving a little bit”. 

What are your expectations for the last races of the 2022 season?  

“The objective over the remaining races is to continue evolving, to be a little closer each time and to be more constant in my race times. What we are looking for is to finish these last three races with good sensations so that after Valencia we can try the new bike and start working towards our project for 2023”. 

When do you think you could be competitive enough to win again? 

“You may feel prepared (to win again), but perhaps there are rivals who are more prepared than you. So, we’ll see. I think my goal for the entire winter of 2022-2023 is to do as best as I can and to have a consistent and complete season. I think that 2023 is still far away”.  

Who do you think has the greater chance of winning the title in 2022?  

“MotoGP right now is very close. But there are two or three drivers who stand out; Fabio Quartararo, Pecco Bagnaia and Aleix Espargaro. The three of them are driving a little faster than the others and, above all, they are being more regular. Each one has his own strength which they have to realise how to take advantage of”. 

Are you hoping to fight for the title in 2023?  

“If you are a Honda rider, you are in the Repsol Honda Team and, well, you have a certain track record, you are obliged to fight for the World Championship title. That is the objective”.

“At the start of every year, the hope, the motivation and the focus are to conquer the title. Then your rivals put you in your place, they give you the answer. They will tell you if you actually can or not, but the intention as soon as January the 1st 2023 is here, is to fight for the World Championship, that is the only objective”. 

Images of Marc Márquez: Estrella Galicia 0,0.