MotoGP Aragon: ‘Podium possibilities are one per cent’ - Marquez

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez was back in the MotoGP paddock and firmly in the firing line for questions during Thursday’s Aragon pre-event press conference.

Having been out of competitive action since the Italian Grand Prix at the end of May, Marquez was eager yet cautious to return to the Motorland track in front of his home crowd this weekend.

“Of course, I’m really happy to come back,” Marquez confirmed. “It’s something that, even in Mugello, I didn’t expect to be here at Aragon to race this year, but things have been in a good way from the beginning, from the surgery, and step-by-step, I feel better. Of course, it’s a long way to go.

“The target I want to achieve, I still need to do a lot of work. But after the Misano test, it has been very positive, the feeling. The way that I finished the test in terms of physical condition was good.

“We analysed my recovery with the arm during the following days and we understood that there may be some possibility to be in Aragon and we discussed it with the doctors, with the team, and with everybody, and we decided to be here because one of the most important things is to be on the bike, for myself but also to prepare the 2023. Now it’s important to combine and to have a good strategy and combine well the gym and the bike, and let’s see what I can do.”

While Marquez’ return brings the usual speculation of domination from the outset, the Spaniard is remaining realistic in his potential.

“About the podium, my possibilities are one percent,” he admitted. “I mean, really, really low. One thing is that I’m really far from my best physical condition, especially always talking about arm condition, about the muscles.

“The bone is fixed, that is most important, but the muscle condition