Marquez struggling with shoulder more at Qatar
MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez admits the nature of the Qatar circuit means he is struggling with his injured right shoulder more than he was at the Sepang test.

The Honda rider underwent surgery on a partially dislocated right shoulder – which he sustained in a heavy crash at the Malaysian Grand Prix last year – in November and rode at the recent Sepang pre-season below full fitness.
Marquez completed 42 laps on the first day of the Qatar test on Saturday and was just 0.361 seconds off the pace in sixth.
But he admits his physical condition hasn’t changed much from Sepang – owing to a damaged nerve – and the numerous long right-hand corners at Losail are “stressing” his shoulder “a lot”.
“Today we started here in a good way more or less, but it’s true that in this circuit I’m struggling a bit more than in Malaysia,” he said.
“In Malaysia it was a different riding style, and here with the long right corners I’m struggling a little bit more."
When asked if there was a noticeable change in his physical condition, he added: “No. I would like to say yes, but honestly speaking I have one nerve damaged and [for] one nerve [to heal] in two weeks is no difference.
“It’s true that the other part of the body is stronger and the other muscles, I tried to work very hard to be stronger and have more power.But especially that muscle is on the same situation.
“It’s true that I arrive in a better way of physical condition, but this circuit, I’m struggling a little bit more because these long right corners are stressing a lot the shoulder.”
Marquez added the Losail track tends to show “all of the weak points of the bike”, but noted that the situation was similar with the bike at this test last year and he went onto just miss out on victory in the race two weeks later.
“Of course, if you have an easier bike to turn it will be easier for the physical condition,” Marquez said. “We know that Honda is one of the bikes that is more demanding on physical condition.
“Here in this circuit we are one more year [where we are showing] all the weak points of the bike and the riding style; all these long corners are our weak points.
“But last year we started more or less in a similar situation and step by step we got closer and closer [to the frontrunners]. So, this is the way: try to work, try to find a special set-up here in Qatar and try to be closer to the top guys.”
Alex Marquez owns up to "rookie" errors
Marquez's younger brother and new teammate Alex suffered two crashes on Saturday in Qatar, and ended up a distant 21st as a result.
The reigning Moto2 champion admits they were simply his own mistakes and says “crashes will come” as he continues to adapt to the bike in his rookie year.
“Was my mistake,” Marquez said. “I made a little mistake going in and then I make that mistake and that’s it. It’s not like I have a problem with the bike.
“So we need to just keep going, keep pushing. The crashes will come, I’m a rookie and I need to find the limit like that.
"About the crashes, only [I need to] understand why I crashed and that’s it.”

Alex Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Previous article
Espargaro slams "super disrespectful" Iannone
Next article
Crutchlow having to ride "amateur" to stay on 2020 Honda

About this article
Series | MotoGP |
Event | Qatar February testing |
Author | Lewis Duncan |
Marquez struggling with shoulder more at Qatar
Trending
Repsol Honda Team - Pol Espargaró Q&A
Repsol Honda Team - Marc Marquez Q&A
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Alex Marquez's form was one of MotoGP 2020's biggest surprises and, by firmly stepping out of his six-time world champion brother Marc's shadow, he proved a few people wrong. Not that he cares about this, as he tells Lewis Duncan
How Yamaha's new MotoGP era can unchain Vinales
After the electrifying start to his Yamaha MotoGP career in 2017, Maverick Vinales has struggled for consistency. Many anticipate that the arrival of Fabio Quartararo could spell disaster, but the departure of Valentino Rossi could be just the impetus he needs.
Does KTM really need 'super engine' for MotoGP title challenge?
Fears from rival MotoGP manufacturers that KTM would build a 'super engine' for 2021 have ultimately come to nothing with the revealation that the RC16 hasn't been radically changed over the winter. But does it really need that to win the title?
How Ducati's latest Aussie union can return it to MotoGP glory
Australians on Ducatis is an iconic partnership, the marque's last one yielding its sole MotoGP crown to date. But its latest Aussie union with the often underestimated Jack Miller can end this drought.
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
Senna vs Prost is regularly cited as motorsport's greatest rivalry. But it can easily be argued Rainey vs Schwantz can stake that claim. That rivalry was in full swing during the 1991 500cc season, remembered fondly by both stars 30 years on...
The "warrior" MotoGP rookie KTM was right to back
The 2020 MotoGP campaign featured a standout pair of rookies, but one flew under the radar as he adjusted to a shock step-up armed with very little racing experience. However as his veteran team boss explains, the faith shown in him was not misplaced
Why Suzuki's Brivio replacement must come from within
With its charismatic leader Davide Brivio leaving for Formula 1, the Suzuki MotoGP squad he turned into a world championship-winning force in 2020 has a major recruitment headache that it needs to resolve carefully.
Why Alpine's latest signing could be its best hope of F1 glory
The return of Fernando Alonso to the renamed Alpine team is a sure sign of the team's ambition. But its latest appointment from MotoGP could be an even bigger coup as it seeks to end a barren run stretching back to Alonso's 2006 world title