MARQUEZ UNDER THE KNIFE
2020 RCV development threatened as world champ undergoes yet more shoulder surgery
Marc Marquez has been forced to undergo unscheduled surgery on his right shoulder after dislocating it during the final test of the 2019 season at Jerez.
It was initially believed the injury was a direct result of an innocuous slow speed crash at turn 13 on day one at Jerez, but the 2019 world champion revealed its origin stem back to the chilling crash he suffered at Sepang during Q2 at the Malaysian GP.
“Before Motegi I had some issues with the shoulder and then after the crash in Malaysia I had a dislocation,” the six-time MotoGP champion explained.
But the fact it dislocated again last week in Jerez led him to fly to the Dexeus Clinic in Barcelona for the surgery to be carried out. Marquez endured a similar operation 12 months ago immediately after concluding testing at the end of the 2018 season, but that time it was to repair his left shoulder which had been dislocating with alarming frequency throughout the season. As Marquez explained at the time, the recovery period was longer and more painful than he expected with his surgeon warning him that he would need three to four months to fully recover.
“I thought the doctors were being too conservative and that with a lot of physiotherapy I would be ready in a little over a month,” he said. However he was proved wrong and only got back to full fitness after the season had got underway in March.
As Marquez essentially underwent the same operation last week as he did last winter, it must be considered unlikely that the 26-year-old will be fully fit for the crucial pre-season tests that will be held in February, tests in which the final version of next season’s Honda will be defined.
The change in Marquez’s circumstances, caused by his injury and fitness issues, saw HRC fully focus the development of the new RCV around him on the final day of the Jerez test with all the 2020 prototype RCVs, featuring a new engine and two different chassis, being assigned exclusively to the Spaniard.
“We are exploring two radically opposite paths.” explained Marquez. “We want the motorcycle to do a series of certain things; we are still not sure which way to choose.”
Despite his injury Marquez intensely evaluated the prototypes, setting the fastest lap of day two and coming fifth overall at the rain-interrupted test. He said: “This winter I would have liked to have a nice holiday and enjoy a bit of quiet time after a great 2019 – but it is time to have surgery on the right shoulder. I want to avoid the situation where my right shoulder is in this condition in the future”. Marquez’s monopoly of the 2020 bikes on day two meant that British rider Cal Crutchlow was left on the 2019 version. The LCR Honda rider finished tenth overall, 1.122secs behind Yamaha pacesetter Maverick Viñales having set his best time on the opening day. “Today I spent t all day with the 2019 version testing parts for the 2020 bike,” a frustrated Crutchlow told MCN.
MotoGP now enters its winter testing ban. The next test will be from February 7 -9 at Sepang in Malaysia.
It’s unlikely he’ll be fully-fit for February test ‘I’d like a holiday but it’s surgery time’
‘I want to avoid situation with shoulder’