MotoGP Motegi: ‘Single laps I can ride, race may be a problem’ - Marquez

Marc Marquez’ expectations of Motegi remain clouded after the Repsol Honda rider had a shorter than expected MotoGP comeback at Aragon.

Having initially remained cautious of how his recovery would unfold during the demanding triple-header, Marquez had hoped a strong return to a track he knows so well would answer some questions. Motorland, however, left more unanswered than intended after a disastrous opening lap saw him in the middle of two collisions before being forced to return to the box.

“Aragon was already really demanding,” Marquez explained from Japan on Thursday. “Especially because the Misano test is one thing but the intensity especially in a race weekend is different.

“Here in Motegi will be the first time that there is a big stress to the right arm, because there are many braking points - long braking points, hard braking points - and right corners, so I will need to manage the situation well, and my physical condition.

“In Aragon, I said that maybe Sunday will not be a problem; maybe here, yes; but I will understand straight away when I go out in FP1.

“The target of the Aragon GP was to try to do some kilometres and try to finish the race, but unfortunately I just did one lap after an amazing start,” he confirmed of his frustrating return. “I was disappointed, especially because I felt ready.

“On race pace I was not bad, it was my strongest point, and I managed the tyres on that race track - I feel really good when the tyres drop - but anyway, it was like this. It was unlucky, but at the same time, lucky, because in both situations, we were lucky that nothing happened.

“It’s true that in Aragon I was struggling a lot in the morning practice, but then in the afternoon practice I felt much better,” he