Defending MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez revealed the injury difficulties he faced during the last round in the USA. Following his crash in Friday practice at COTA, his weekend there was so disappointing that it led some to speculate about whether fitness issues could be a serious threat to his title defence and long-term career.
Marquez still battles with the after-effects of his 2020 crash at Jerez, the circuit that will host this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. These were compounded by his fall at the Indonesian Grand Prix last season. The high-speed crash in Texas last month, which like the previous accidents also struck the right side of his body, came on top of all that, leading to one of his worst weekends in recent memory.
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Speaking to media at Jerez on Thursday, the Ducati factory rider confidently emphasised that he was back to full fitness following the long break since the US Grand Prix. But he also suggested that his performance at COTA was indeed hit by the cocktail of fitness issues - something he was reluctant to admit at the time.
Asked how the Friday crash had compromised his weekend, Marquez gave a slow and considered reply.
"I mean, that was a big one. It was a big crash. And the thing is that I don't like to crash during the weekend because it didn't help me."
At that point, Marquez revealed some of the heavy traces of the crash that still remain on his right forearm.
"It was covered and then nobody [knew]," he admitted. "Again it was the right arm. [With the existing right arm issues] plus this injury, it was a difficult weekend.
"The thing is that the last races, Friday I was one rider and then Saturday another one and Sunday another one. It was worse and worse and worse."
He also revealed an easy way for viewers to spot if he was in difficulty physically.
"The thing is that '[right] elbow up' means protection. 'Elbow down' means confidence and no pain."
Marquez also admitted that his physical condition has made the early laps of races a challenge of late. Losing body temperature while waiting on the grid has meant effectively warming up a second time when the race begins.
"During the practice I can warm my body and then in 10 minutes I'm on the bike. [For the race you can] warm your body, [wait] 25 minutes on the grid and then restart.
"Those three laps, I was struggling with the pain. And then when the body got warm, I was feeling better and better. So, it's there where we work and I think the fact that I have more power will also help me use the tendons less and all these things."
For all his troubles in America, Marc has taken any fitness excuses off the table for this weekend's race.
Asked if he was feeling back to 100%, he said: "Yeah, I feel much better than the previous races. So yeah, good level for racing.
"This doesn't mean that I will be the fastest one. But yeah, about physical condition, I feel much better.
"But now I believe that I'm at a good level to ride. Not at 110 per cent, but at a maximum level here in MotoGP."
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