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In the last few hours, speculation about what Marc Marquez would say in the press conference convened in Jerez sky-rocketed. He is to blame for having changed the time and also the location twice, from the Honda hospitality to the circuit conference room, before going back on his steps. In the end, the Spanish champion didn't have anything special to announce, just an update on his medical condition.
“I decided to talk to you because the Spanish GP is one of the most important ones for me, for the team, for all the sponsors – were his words - I was very optimistic and I said OK I will try and recover in four weeks while the doctors said it would take from 5 to 6. But then on Tuesday, when we had the CT scan, the results were very clear.”
What was the response?
“It was too risky, there was a very high risk of destroying the surgery: the Madrid medical team with Ignacio Roger de Oña, the Clinica Mayo clinical team also the Red Bull APC center medical team told me so. When three medical teams say that you are doing a crazy thing and if you ride you will damage again, then you must accept. Tonight I will go back home to continue with my rehabilitation."
Did past experiences convince you not to risk it?
"If I'm competing it's because I want to take the risk, but when medical staff tell you the same thing, you have to accept it. The main risk was not crashing: it was the pressure on the handlebar, I will damage again. Especially because it's a very small crack, but it's a crack that gives the stability to the finger. And this finger is one of the most important ones, especially on the braking point. I broke that bone in that kind of situation: it was an impact and that kind of situation I will repeat every brake point. But if I re-injure that, maybe it could be the end of my career because it's a very important finger. So, it was an easy decision not to race."
Since 2020, you have missed more than half of the Grands Prix.
“It wasn't easy not being in Argentina, on a track that I like, even more so in Austin, which I love, and then here in Spain. Apart from that, I'll be able to help Honda in the tests on Monday, but Rins and Mir are two excellent riders and will be able to carry on with the project. The main target is to be in in Le Mans but this is not a 100 percent assured. The CT scan I'll have on the Tuesday before the GP will tell."
Meanwhile, it is not yet known whether you will serve the two Long Laps with which you were penalized in Portimao. What do you think?
"Honestly speaking, and believe me I don't follow a lot that situation. Of course, I received a penalty on Sunday in Portugal that I was completely agreeing with. But then I don't know why they changed it after two days. Then the team decided to appeal, but as you can imagine that when you are injured you don't think about these things. Believe me, the worst penalty for a rider is being injured, losing three races.
Didn't even the criticism for that incident affect you?
“There were contacts, there have been and there will be. No rider wants to crash or knock anyone else over, but it happens, that's motorcycle racing. Anyone who doesn't understand this hasn't seen many races."
How do you manage to be motivated after so many injuries?
“It's not a question of motivation, but of willpower, of sacrifices. I wake up every morning at 7, I go to the hyperbaric chamber for 2 hours, then I train: it's my job and I will continue to do it because it's my passion that demands it from me".
