2022 Marquez MotoGP return “very important” for Honda, says team boss
Honda MotoGP team boss Alberto Puig says it’s “very important” for Marc Marquez to return to action by the end of 2022 to help develop next year’s bike.
The six-time MotoGP world champion is currently out of action for the foreseeable future having undergone a fourth major surgery on his broken right arm at the start of the month following the Italian Grand Prix.
No recovery time has been set for Marquez, but Honda boss Puig says his rider has “started to move his hand and be active” after the operation – which took place at the Mayo Clinic in America - was deemed a success
Puig also says no return date is being touted at present as Marquez is yet to have his first post-surgery check-up with doctors, but did concede that having him back by the end of the season will be vital for Honda in preparing the 2023 bike.
“The deadline in an operation is set when there is bone consolidation,” Puig told DAZN.
“Everyone knows how long it takes to consolidate.
“The important thing is that there are no complications, everything is going very well.
“I don't know [when he will be able to return], but the doctor already said that when the bone is consolidated and the CAT scan says there is no inconvenience, he can return.
“It will be very important for him to be able to come back and test the bike by the end of the season.
"We have training and tests that are very important for the bike's development.”
Stefan Bradl, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Honda test rider Stefan Bradl is currently standing in for Marquez until he is able to return to racing, having done so in 2020 when the six-time world champion broke his arm.
Only one official test remains in 2022 for factories to prepare their 2023 prototypes, with one day of running scheduled at Valencia following the season-finale.
The traditional two-day Jerez test that takes place post-season has been scrapped for 2022.
Should Marquez be unable to return by the end of the season, he won’t be able to test the new Honda until pre-season testing begins in February – with just five days scheduled again in 2023 before the first round of the campaign.
Share Or Save This Story
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid
Norris given Belgium GP grid penalty as McLaren takes new Mercedes power unit parts
Aston Martin "flat out" on Hungary updates but has concerns over spare parts being ready
Is this the luckiest F1 fan on the planet?
Smith becomes latest to top Autosport National Rankings
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments