Pol Espargaro welcomes Marc Marquez back in the Honda box for the Portuguese MotoGP weekend, for their first race together as teammates.
Marquez has been cleared by his doctors to make his MotoGP return, but his final medical check will be done in Portugal by the FIM. It may seem a formality, but the results will be awaited, nevertheless, to make it official that he will, at least started the weekend.
Having raced alongside Stefan Bradl in Qatar, Espargaro welcomes Marquez in Honda’s box from Portugal onward. It will certainly a huge learning for the Spaniard, to take on a MotoGP world champion. “We left Qatar with good information but without the results we were looking for,” he said.
“Portugal gives me a chance to start to understand the Honda more because it will be the first time not riding it in Losail. It’s a fun and very physical circuit to ride so I am excited to try the RC213V in Portugal. We need to continue to improve our performance and show the potential of the Honda. Of course I am also very excited to have Marc back in the box, he is the reference in MotoGP and working with him will help us to raise out level,” summed up Espargaro.
At the same time, Marquez, is raring to go, having missed one whole year of racing. “It’s a great feeling to be returning to MotoGP, with my team and my bike,” he said. “We have been working very hard to achieve this, many hours in the gym and with my physio Carlos. We would have liked to have been in Qatar, but finally my doctors advised me against it and I listened to them.
“I have really focused on listening to the doctors and understanding my body so that I can return to MotoGP and do what I love. I have a little bit of experience in Portugal but the aim of this weekend is to work well. Step by step, we are coming back and this is very positive after a long period,” summed up Marquez.
UPDATE: Following the medical check at the track, both Marquez and Ducati’s Jack Miller are cleared to hit the track on Friday:
https://twitter.com/MotoGP/status/1382687672842526731?s=20
https://twitter.com/ducaticorse/status/1382678130100436995?s=20
Here’s Andrea Dovizioso testing with Aprilia
Here’s news on the return of Marc Marquez