Repsol-Honda Team has released an official statement this Wednesday announcing the participation of Marc Marquez in the 2022 MotoGP pre-season tests, which are due to start on February 5 in Sepang, Malaysia:

“Last Monday, January 24, Marquez underwent another medical check which reconfirmed that the treatment has been a complete success and the eight-time World Champion is in a suitable condition to ride a MotoGP bike” – Explained the Japanese team -.  

“Therefore, it has been decided that Marquez will start his 2022 campaign at the first official MotoGP Test in Sepang before heading to Mandalika, Indonesia the following week” – continued the statement -.  

In principle, everything suggests the resolution of the diplopia (double vision), that the Spaniard had suffered since November 2021, and which has jeopardized his very professional career. 

The # 93 himself had recently spoken of his fears and confessed that he had gone through the most complicated stage of his career. Marc Marquez admitted that he did not know if he would be able to compete again or if the damaged nerve of his right eye would ever heal completely. 

https://twitter.com/HRC_MotoGP/status/1486262982451634177

In any case, these are fabulous news for the pilot both at a personal and a professional level, particularly considering his numerous misfortunes since he broke his right arm in 2020. His team, Repsol Honda, orphaned as it has been of an irreplaceable figure for so long, must also be rejoicing at the news. 

In addition to this, his contribution to the development of the RC213V was hardly felt, with the technical team seemingly at a loose end without the feedback of the Spaniard. Let’s not forget that Marc Marquez’ MotoGP career has been incomparably successful.

It is for all these reasons that Marquez’ presence at the winter tests in the Malaysian Circuit in Sepang (February 5-7) and a week later at the Mandalika Autodrome in Indonesia (February 11-13), could mark the resurgence of the team of the golden wing…and of its brightest star.  

A slow but steady recovery  

Marc Marquez has followed a strict three-month recovery programme in order to be able to ride a MotoGP machine again. This has been supervised by doctor Sanchez Dalmau, his trusted ophthalmologist, and the one that already helped him heal from the same condition eleven years prior. 

Thanks to his commitment to his rehabilitation, the six-time MotoGP champion finally proved to himself -and to all doomsayers- that he could ride again on January 13, with a first trial aboard a motocross bike.

To make sure that the mental wounds were had also healed, Marquez decided to try the precise same bike with which he suffered the accident that caused him severe eye nerve damage preparing  AlgarveGP2020. 

https://twitter.com/box_repsol/status/1483060837799665672

On passing that initial test with flying colours, the time came to ride a speed bike, and Marc Marquez chose the Honda RC213V-S, the closest thing to a competition beast… without being actually one. In order to best assess his state of fitness, he chose a particularly demanding track with great elevation changes: Portimao. Thankfully, the experiment was also a success on January 17. 

Encouraged by the good sensation, three days later Marquez then made his way to Motorland Aragon in Alcañiz to ride a Honda CBR600RR, and once more he got further reassurance that he was ready to return to action, but not before driving a kart at the Vendrell Circuit in Tarragona on January 24. 

After overcoming every single one of the circuit challenges, however, he still had to pass the ultimate test: the medical examination. Now, and after receiving the last check-up from his doctor he has finally been given the green light to travel to Malaysia. 

https://twitter.com/marcmarquez93/status/1485575359064162304

Images of Marc Marquez: Repsol-Honda Team.