Marquez returns with superb podium on Sprint and authors classic comeback on Sunday

The first Indian Grand Prix will go down as a classic, and a highlight of the year for Marc Marquez showed the potential of the Honda RC213V as he put in an early podium challenge and impressive recovery.

With a belly full of fire and motivation after a return to the Sprint podium, Marquez shot off the line and immediately hooked himself to the back of the leading trio. As Martin and Bagnaia traded blows, the #93 sensed his opportunity and turned up the pace to stay with them. Unfortunately, at Turn 1 on lap five, Marquez fell but there was no waiting around an in true Marquez style, he remounted within just eight seconds and rejoined in 16th place.

From here, he cut through the field and found himself back inside the top ten by lap 14. Steady progress continued and the eight-time World Champion would take ninth at the flag, a solid result considering the fall.

The entire Repsol Honda Team now head directly to Japan for Honda’s home race at the Motegi circuit.

Marc Márquez, 9th :

“If you just looked at the final result and see ninth you wouldn’t know the whole story of our race – but to achieve what could be considered our ‘normal’ result after a crash is a positive. It was a really small crash but I was pushing very hard to stay in the slip stream of the bikes ahead, I went a bit wide and just fell. I came into this race with the motivation of the Sprint podium, so when I saw Pecco and Martin make a mistake I decided I needed to push. This led to the mistake. The most important thing was finishing the race, overall our rhythm was very close to Quartararo so I think we can be overall happy with what we have done this weekend.”

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Marquez continues upward trajectory with best result of 2023

A ‘perfect race’ for Marc Marquez on his way to a hard fought seventh and a return to the top ten ahead of an important Monday Test.

The weekend of progress continued inside the Repsol Honda Team garage as the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini reached its climax with the 27-lap Grand Prix on Sunday. As the track temperature crept above 40°C, the MotoGP field set their sights on the challenge ahead.

From ninth on the grid, Marc Marquez made another flying start to establish himself well inside the top ten. By lap nine, he had moved himself up to sixth place where he would sit for the majority of the race as he stalked Maverick Viñales. Only in the final laps would the eight-time MotoGP World Champion be challenged, first by Miguel Oliveira and then by Raul Fernandez and Luca Marini – Marquez fending off the latter two in a fierce final lap battle.

The result is another step in the upward trajectory of Marquez and Honda’s results in recent rounds, the #93 now having taken points in three consecutive races and earning a first top-ten of the year. All involved remain unsatisfied with these results however as the Repsol Honda Team strive to return to challenging at the front of the MotoGP World Championship. Monday’s test will be another important step in this journey with the final in-season MotoGP test taking place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

Marc will be back on track for Monday’s MotoGP test, a chance to sample what Honda HRC engineers have been working on away from the track.

Marc Marquez, 7th: “For me, this was the best race of the year alongside Le Mans. It’s my best Sunday of the season, I took the maximum that was available and passed our target. Our rhythm was very good until the soft rear option dropped a little bit at the end – but this is normal. In the end I was able to have some good battles with the Aprilia riders and Marini. The objective is to keep this going in the coming races. Before that we have an important test for the future, a first taste of what 2024 could hold. I’m looking forward to seeing how the bike will be with my riding style and then beginning to work with the engineers.”

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Marc Márquez scored points at home GP

A challenging day in Barcelona saw Marc Marquez avoid a number of incidents on track, Marquez leaving with another point-scoring finish.

Sunday proved to be a dramatic day at the Catalan GP as chaos unfolded over the opening few corners, both Repsol Honda Team riders avoiding issues. With the Red Flag immediately coming out Marc Marquez and Joan Mir returned to the Repsol Honda Team garage and awaited the restart. Race distance was reduced to 23 laps as a result of the restart.

Marquez, starting 11th due to a grid penalty for Bastianini, launched well to quickly move inside the top ten. As in the Sprint on Saturday, the Repsol Honda Team rider held his own in the opening half of the race before settling into his rhythm for the remainder of the race. Quartararo would pressure the #93 for multiple laps, eventually getting past after a spirited defense from the Honda rider. Taking 13th at the line, Marquez was able to collect more points and complete another Grand Prix weekend without major incident.

The Repsol Honda Team now head directly to Misano for the penultimate European race of the season and the last in-season test before the frenetic end of season marathon begins.

Marc Marquez, 13th

“First of all, I am very glad that Pecco and all of the other riders avoided any serious injury. I saw Pecco crash on the opening lap and I immediately did everything I could to make sure I could avoid him. In the race restart I was able to gain a few positions. Then, like yesterday I was very strong at the start but then had to go into a more conservative mode in the second half of the race. In the final races I was focusing on getting the bike home. Now we start thinking about Misano.”

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Marquez returns to the points in race of mixed fortunes for the Repsol Honda Team

A run of DNFs for Marc Marquez was finally brought to an end as he crossed the line for the Austrian Grand Prix in 12th.

Clear skies and a blazing sun continued to rule over the Red Bull Ring as Sunday’s action at the 4.32 kilometer-long track began. With just ten quick minutes of Warm Up to start the day, attention rapidly switched to the 28-lap Grand Prix. As the lights went out, the MotoGP grid was able to avoid any serious incident into and through Turn 1 as happened in the Sprint.

Marc Marquez was able to maintain his position throughout the opening lap and began to challenge those ahead for points. The only rider running the soft rear, Marquez was able to consistently gain ground on those in front and joined the battle for the top ten before too long. With just a few laps remaining, the #93 was sitting comfortably in 12th position – just behind Bastianini and Morbidelli as he maintained his calm and calculated approach. Holding the position until the end, Marquez ends both his and the Repsol Honda Team’s luckless streak of Sunday DNFs. The result is a culmination of a revised approach to the Grand Prix weekends for Marquez and the Repsol Honda Team.

The Repsol Honda Team will now head for Barcelona and the Gran Premi de Catalunya, the first of two back-to-back races. Marquez will be aiming to continue their improvements and put in a strong weekend for the home fans.

Marc Márquez, 12º: “The result of this Grand Prix was a culmination of the new approach we are taking as in Silverstone. We are trying to understand many things with the bike and avoid falling, finally we finished a race. At one point in the race my times were quite good, but I was the only one with the soft rear. It’s good to finish a race but obviously we are aiming for more and we need to keep on working. It’s been a busy weekend here in Austria and now we see what’s possible in Montmeló.”

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Marc Márquez endure DNF in complicated British GP

An unfortunate end to the British Grand Prix for the Repsol Honda Team who had been working to build over the course of the weekend meant they would leave unrewarded. Spits of rain in the buildup to the 20-lap race had many wondering if there was a chance of the race being declared wet. Rain would eventually arrive, sending a handful of riders into the pit in the closing stages.

Marc Marquez was able to gain several positions early in the race, despite losing his right wing due to contact on the opening lap. The eight-time World Champion worked his way to inside the top ten despite this limitation as the rain returned and the white flags came out. His charge would be short lived as contact with Enea Bastianini at Turn 12 ended the Repsol Honda Team rider’s race. Marquez escaped injury in the fall.

The entirety of the Repsol Honda Team will work to regroup and go again at the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, 18 to 20 August.

Marc Márquez – DNF

“Our race was complicated from the start as I lost my right wing when I had a small contact in the first lap. Then I crashed in an unlucky situation with Bastianini, but it was the type of crash where you don’t lose any confidence. Without one wing I was losing a lot under acceleration but at one point in the race it started to rain and I was able to make up some ground to the other riders. Aside from this, the weekend was not so bad when we look at our approach and what we were able to do in the race before the crash. We keep working, building our confidence and following our plan.

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Marquez to miss Dutch GP

Marc Marquez will sit out the Grand Prix at the TT Circuit Assen after being declared unfit due to the injuries sustained at the German GP last week, which have been aggravated further in Assen.

Marc Márquez, DNS:

“We arrived here in a difficult condition and it only worsened as the weekend went on. Last night I suffered a lot trying to sleep, when I woke up the pain was very high and I went straight to the medical center. Checks revealed the break in the rib had shifted so we had to miss the race. Now is the time to rest and recover and come back after the summer break fit and ready to keep working.”

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Italian GP podium challenge ends in disappointment for Marquez

Another valiant ride from Marc Marquez went unrewarded as he fell while hunting a top-three finish, walking away disappointed but unharmed.

Marc Marquez once again lined up on the front row of the grid as the 23-lap Italian Grand Prix loomed. Temperatures had steadily risen throughout the day and Saturday’s afternoon downpour was nowhere to be seen as the Italian tricolore was painted in the sky.

The start of the race was aggressive from the top five as everyone jostled for position into the first corner, Marquez holding his own and slotting into fifth. Joined by brother Alex Marquez, Jack Miller and Luca Marini, the quartet traded places over the course of the opening laps with Marc Marquez taking any opportunity to fight for a gap. The #93 and Marini eventually managed to open a small gap over the others as they sparred for third.

Unfortunately, a moment entering the final corner would see Marquez lose the front in Turn 15, tumbling out of the race on lap six. Hugely disappointed, Marquez was unharmed in the fall and now begins to prepare for the Sachsenring and better fortunes.

Marc Marquez – DNF

“Today I was riding really well and with some margin, I was feeling comfortable and not stressed. I saw Bagnaia and Martin had escaped so I focused on staying with Marini in that group and trying to achieve my goal of the top six or seven. I had a moment at Turn 10 on the first lap and then again going into the last corner before I fell. Right now we need to keep improving and keep working. Fortunately, I was not injured in the crash today and we have another race next week so it gives us a chance to keep working.”

 

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Marquez shows his speed in Le Mans

The Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez starred in a thrilling French GP, battling until the very end for the podium and showing the #93 is well and truly back.

Saturday’s electric atmosphere was only amplified as a record-breaking crowd of over 116,000 descended on the Le Mans circuit for race day. These fans would not leave disappointed as the most thrilling race of the year quickly erupted – Marc Marquez playing a leading role as he fought with his characteristic determination for every place on his return to the grid.

From second on the grid, the #93 immediately put himself into contention for the lead as he battled with Jack Miller in the opening laps. The pair continually traded places and fought fiercely as other riders loomed in the background. Marquez was briefly pushed out of podium contention as he and Bezzecchi ran wide, but quickly found his way back into the top three. As drama unfolded behind him, Marquez turned his attentions to Jorge Martin and the top three.

The pair began another awe-inspiring battle in the second half of the race as Marquez slid his Honda RC213V around the French circuit, defending second place in spectacular style. A moment coming out of Turn 6 would put the eight-time World Champion on the wrong line into Turn 7, resulting in a fall. Walking away unharmed, Marquez was disappointed not to walk away with a reward for the weekend’s work but content with the performance he produced.

 

Marc Márquez – DNF

“I am really happy with the race today; I was able to ride like I rode a long time ago and I was really able to enjoy being on the bike. Unfortunately, the final result is not what we wanted, but I spent the whole race fighting and pushing the limit. We have had a really busy weekend doing a lot of work and a podium would have been a great reward, especially for my team who have continued to work at their maximum. We still need to find a bit more to fight like this every weekend. In terms of the crash, I fell at Turn 7 but it started at Turn 6 when I had a lot of shaking and I didn’t arrive with the perfect line. I think we had a real MotoGP race today; it was a great show for all the fans who came here this weekend.”

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Marc Márquez returns at historic 1000th GP in France

Marc Marquez makes his much-anticipated return to restore the Repsol Honda Team and re-join Joan Mir, both looking for stable weekends during a milestone event.

After breaking the first metacarpal on his right hand in Portugal, Marc Marquez will return to racing his Repsol Honda Team RC213V in France. Having consulted with three separate medical teams, all involved are satisfied with the healing of the bone and the #93 will be back on track in France. The primary focus of the weekend will be getting back into the flow of a Grand Prix weekend and picking up where Marquez and the Honda RC213V left off. Marquez has stood on the top step of the podium on three occasions in the premier class in Le Mans.

The full-strength Repsol Honda Team will be back out on track at 10:45 Local Time for Free Practice 1 on Friday, May 12.

Marc Marquez

“I am really happy to be back with the Repsol Honda Team, about to ride my bike again. First of all I want to thank my medical team for their professionalism and advice over the past few weeks. Of course as a rider you always want to be back as soon as possible, but with an injury like this it was really important to allow it to heal. Now I am here and fully focused on riding, I have no worries about the injury since it’s fully healed. Let’s see what the French GP brings and most importantly, work to our maximum.”

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Marquez continues recovery, targets French GP return

Tuesday, April 25, Marc Marquez underwent a medical check at the Ruber Internacional Hospital after having been successfully operated on four weeks ago for an intra-articular fracture of the first metacarpal on the right hand.

The clinical and radiological progression was deemed satisfactory, however, due to the nature of the fracture and the time elapsed, the medical team led by Dr. Roger de Oña together with Marquez, have decided to continue with his recovery and preparation during the coming weeks and focus his possible return on the French GP, May 12 – 14.

Iker Lecuona from Team HRC in WorldSBK will replace Marc Marquez for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix.

Marc Marquez

“Yesterday we did another CT scan and it has been confirmed that, despite the fact that the injury is progressing favourably, the bone has not yet finished healing and racing in Jerez was risky. Together with the medical team, we decided not to take any risks, to wait two more weeks and return in Le Mans. I am very sorry to miss the Spanish Grand Prix because it is always special, because of the atmosphere, racing at home and above all, seeing and enjoying the fans. I will continue with the rehabilitation and work to be back as soon as possible. Thank you for your messages of support!”

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