Marquez out of MotoGP ‘for months’

Marc Marquez will not defend his MotoGP title in 2020, following news that the time to recover from the broken arm he suffered at Jerez will take much longer than originally predicted.

The six-time premier class champion broke his right humerus in a fall at MotoGP’s opening round on 19 July and gamely returned to the circuit for the following round a week later, but withdrew before the race. Since then, in an incident away from the racetrack, Marquez broke the plate holding the fracture together, requiring further surgery.

Ruled out for the Czech round on 9 August, it was originally thought that Marquez may return for the first round of the San Marino double-header on 13 September. However, at Spielberg on 22 August, Repsol Honda announced that they and Marquez had agreed not to rush his recovery. 

Alberto Puig, Repsol Honda Team Manager, said: "From the first moment, after the second operation, we have said that the only deadline that exists is that (Marc) is fully recovered from his injury. We don't want to rush.

“When Marc is in a position to come back and compete like he knows he can, then we will think about the next goal."

The decision, made after consulting a number of specialists and “modifying” the planned recovery process, means Marquez will be on the sidelines for an additional two to three months. In this year’s compressed and shortened MotoGP season, that length of time effectively rules him out of the championship.

If the predicted recovery time is accurate, Marquez will compete in four races at best, starting with the Teruel round on 25 October. At worst, he’ll only make the season finale at Portimao on 22 November. Either way, the absence of Marquez means a new MotoGP champion will be crowned this year.