Repsol Honda manager Alberto Puig at the Red Bull Ring called the participation of Marc Marquez in the IRTA tests after the San Marino Grand Prix “extremely important” and even “critically important”.: There, HRC will present a new Honda RC213V model, where all the shortcomings identified in 2022 have been corrected.
Next week, Marc Marquez will have to go through a significant stage of rehabilitation – to make a full 3D image of the humerus corrected during the 4th operation, according to which the attending doctors must say the decisive word – Mark is ready to increase the level of loads or not. This means whether he will be able to get back into the saddle of the motorcycle. As Mark himself said, as soon as they say yes, he will do it.
Honda hopes that Marquez will be able to return to more or less full-fledged work as part of the team after the San Marino Grand Prix. The first stage of participation is tests of the newest RC213V prototype. Rather, not full-fledged tests, namely expertise, that is, an opinion and feedback about the sensations of the new chassis.
“If he can’t, it could be a big problem,” said Alberto Puig. “We are following all the doctor’s prescriptions very strictly, and on August 25, Marc will have to do a large CT scan. If the bone is in order, has not shifted, and has not changed its geometry, then he will be able to return to the race. If not, then we are out of the test schedule.”
“Personally, I don’t think Marc will be ready to race right after Misano. But to the tests, it is likely. We’re not talking about a hundred laps a day, but four will be enough… That’s enough for Marc. He knows what he wants to see and feel. And therefore, his presence there is critically important.”
“Marc’s non-participation in these tests will change little, but it will postpone the development process for 3 months, all the way to Valencia. He is the only one today who really understands the nature of RC213V and the lack of his expertise will greatly complicate our work.”