'Happy' Marc Marquez targeting Sepang MotoGP return after Portimao test

Marc Marquez 'didn’t have any discomfort' with his vision during 65 high-speed laps at Portimao on Sunday.

It clears the way for the eight-time world champion to 'intensify' his physical preparation and bike training with a view to attending the opening MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang from February 5-6.

“I am feeling very happy, first to be back on a bike at the track and also because we were able to confirm the sensations I had on a motocross bike here with the road bike," said Marquez, who has been absent from the race track since last October's victory at Misano.

"It’s a great feeling, a feeling of relief because when I was riding, I didn’t have any discomfort with my vision.

"Since I haven’t ridden in so long, I did notice some physical areas where I’m missing a little bit but this is just because I have not been able to have my usual pre-season.

"There’s a margin to improve but the positive and the fundamental take away from this test was to reconfirm the feeling we had when we first got on the motocross bike and to enjoy the good feeling of speed.

"I have completed an intense day of riding with long runs, I am very happy with the results. We have two weeks until testing begins in Sepang so I will take the opportunity to intensify my physical preparation and train on the bike.”

Off a motorcycle for nearly three months following an enduro training accident that damaged a nerve in his right eye and triggered a repeat of his 2011 double-vision problems, Marquez successfully returned to motocross last week.

But Marquez's doctors insisted that before booking tickets to Sepang, the eight-time world champion needed to undergo a day of extensive testing on a grand prix circuit to put his eye through the kind of high-speed rigours experienced in MotoGP.

With the testing regulations preventing use of a RC213V race bike, Marquez took to the Portuguese Grand Prix venue using the production RC213V-S version and 'track day' style tyres. Younger brother Alex Marquez was also riding.

2022 is the fourth season that Marc Marquez has faced a winter of recovery, undergoing shoulder surgery ahead of the 2019 and 2020 world championships, before arm fracture complications forced him to miss the opening two rounds of 2021.

Portimao was the scene of his return to MotoGP action, the Spaniard going on to win three races before the eye injury forced his withdraw from the last two events and following Jerez test.