Reaction to Marquez injury as MotoGP title potentially thrown open
Marc Marquez’s key MotoGP rivals have reacted to the news he could be out for a prolonged period of time after fracturing his arm in an accident during the closing stages of the Spanish MotoGP.
In a fraught and frantic race for the Spaniard, an error at Turn 3 early on shortly after he took the lead saw him drop to the back of the pack only for him to mount a stunning charge back up to third position.
However, with three laps to go Marquez high-sided at the same left-hander and was glanced by the Repsol Honda as he somersaulted through the gravel. It is that impact that has led to a fracture of the humerus and one that will require surgery, but not until Tuesday.
The timeframe means he is almost certainly out of next week’s follow-up Andalusian MotoGP at the same Jerez circuit and puts him under huge doubt for the following rounds too in Czech Republic and Austria.
Indeed, such is the concentration of races during this short season, even minor injuries could have a huge effect on the title challenge with this potential absence of the hot favourite potentially throwing the title race wide open.
With the news breaking as Fabio Quartararo, Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizooso – the three podium winners from today – they were asked to give their view on the revelation.
“Get well soon, is the first thing I can say, because the crash was really big,” said Quartararo, a first-time MotoGP winner today. “It will be strange because Marc is the favourite, so it will be strange to be without the favourite here. Speedy recovery and hope to see you soon on track
“I hope for a speed recovery for Marc and if he can be here at the next race it will be perfect, get well soon,” added Maverick Vinales, who was arguably regarded as Marquez’s biggest title threat coming into the year.
Runner-up to Marquez for the past three seasons, Andrea Dovizioso said “This is the bad part of our sport, it’s really bad. We are competitors and we want to beat everybody but at the end nobody wants that to happen but it is a part of our sport, unfortunately but Marc is really strong and I think he will come back soon.”
Marquez came into the 2020 MotoGP season chasing a seventh MotoGP title and a ninth World Championship win. Last year he won on 12 occasions and finished second in all but the remaining seven events on the schedule.
