Breaking news

MotoGP

Marquez: "Hasty" Jerez comeback attempt was a mistake

Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has admitted his attempts to return to action at Jerez just days after surgery on a broken right arm at the start of the season was “a mistake”.

Lewis Duncan

Lewis Duncan

Edited: Dec 5, 2020, 4:56 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Marquez crashed heavily in the closing stages of the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, breaking the humerus bone in his right arm which required an operation to have a plate fitted. 

The Honda rider tried to return for the following week’s Andalusian GP at the same track, having been cleared to do so by doctors. 

But he had to abort his comeback after encountering problems in his right arm after qualifying, with the stresses of that weekend ultimately weakening the plate to where it broke as he attempted to open a door at his home.

Having had a second operation to fix this, Marquez wouldn’t race again in 2020, with a slower-than-expected recovery forcing him to have a third operation on Thursday in Madrid.

The bone graft operation took eight hours, and though a recovery time is unknown at this stage, Marquez faces a six-month period of rehabilitation – casting his participation in the start of the 2021 season into doubt.

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Speaking to Spanish broadcaster DAZN, Marquez commented on his Jerez return attempt, stating: “This year has taught me many things. 

“The first, that the attempt to return after the injury was hasty. My plate broke at home, opening a sliding door that I have to go out to the garden. But the plate did not break there, it did so as a result of all the stress that was created in Jerez.

“Trying to return to Jerez was a mistake. I've learned that the riders have a virtue and a defect, which is that the riders do not see fear, so they [doctors] have to make us see it. 

“After the first operation, the first question of every rider is: when can I get back on the bike? And it is the doctor who has to know how to stop you, he is the one who has to be realistic. I went to Jerez with the peace of mind that the plate held because they told me so.

“I am brave but not unconscious. If they tell me that the plate can break, I would not have gotten on a 300km/h motorcycle.”

An update from Honda on Saturday revealed Marquez will remain in hospital in Madrid after an infection was found in the fracture, which will require “specific antibiotic treatment”.

The release also states his clinical situation post-surgery has been deemed “satisfactory”.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Marc Marquez faces six-month layoff after third surgery

Next article Quartararo desires “less emotion” in 2021 MotoGP approach

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Lewis Duncan



MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed

MotoGP

MotoGP

MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed



A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?

MotoGP

MotoGP

German GP

A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?



What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?

MotoGP

MotoGP

German GP

What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?

Latest news



Barcelona set to host IndyCar race in 2027 under multi-year deal

IndyCar

Indy IndyCar 11 h

Barcelona set to host IndyCar race in 2027 under multi-year deal



Winners and losers from a Chase-altering NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

13 h

Winners and losers from a Chase-altering NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix



Heart of Racing rules Valkyrie GTP step next year ‘too soon’ for IMSA standout Barrichello

IMSA

IMSA IMSA 13 h

Heart of Racing rules Valkyrie GTP step next year ‘too soon’ for IMSA standout Barrichello



Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

13 h

Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"

Feature

Discover prime content



MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

By Richard Asher

MotoGP riders could get what they want, and fast, if only they would stand together



Five things we learned from MotoGP's brutal Indonesian Grand Prix

MotoGP

Indonesian GP

By Richard Asher

Five things we learned from MotoGP's brutal Indonesian Grand Prix



The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight

MotoGP

Japanese GP

By Rachit Thukral

The contrasting tactics used by Ducati and Aprilia in MotoGP 2026 title fight



Five things we learned from MotoGP Japanese GP after tyre drama

MotoGP

Japanese GP

By Rachit Thukral

Five things we learned from MotoGP Japanese GP after tyre drama

Subscribe and access Motorsport.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.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe