Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez did not look 100% at any point this weekend, and Mat Oxley believes it was a sign he was going to struggle at the Spanish Grand Prix.
After Marquez won the Spanish GP sprint on Saturday and secured pole position for the race, many believed he would end the weekend with another race win at Jerez.
However, Marquez would crash early in the race, ending his Spanish Grand Prix early for the second year in a row.
Marco Bezzecchi and Alex Marquez say it was ‘really windy’ at turn 11. Was that the reason Marc Marquez crashed?
Given his age and his injury struggles, and of course the massive gap between him and Marco Bezzecchi, many believe Marquez missed his final shot at a world championship with his crash at Jerez.
But to those in attendance all weekend, Marc Marquez’s crash at the Spanish Grand Prix came as no surprise, as his injury issues were evident for all to see.
READ MORE: Marc Marquez’s biggest MotoGP title comebacks with Marco Bezzecchi now 44 points ahead
Mat Oxley reveals the worrying sign from Marc Marquez that shows his injury still bothers him
Speaking on the Oxley Bom MotoGP podcast, Mat Oxley talked about Marc Marquez’s crash and how they tie into his injury struggles.
Oxley revealed that Marquez was seen favouring his left shoulder during the debriefing session, suggesting that he still hasn’t recovered from his injury yet.
“Last year, he said he crashed here because he was attacking too much too early. This year, he said, ‘I don’t know what happened.’ A couple of the riders did say that it was a lot windier there in that section than it had been during practice.
“When they’re on the limit like they are, the tiniest little difference can make a difference. Going back to Marc’s arm, there’s no doubt that it’s not right. He says it’s not right. Sometimes he says it’s fine.
“I was watching him in the debrief, and he always stands with his left hand on his hip. If he just lets that down, that’s leaving all the work to the shoulder muscles. That shoulder is so screwed up from multiple accidents and multiple surgeries.
READ MORE: Peter Bom says Marc Marquez’s muscles are ‘failing’ after Spanish Grand Prix crash
Marc Marquez has never come back from a deficit larger than 37 points
With the gap to Marco Bezzecchi now 44, are his title hopes over?
Mat Oxley reveals long-standing shoulder issues dating back to 2019
Oxley shared more details about Marquez’s struggle with his shoulder injuries, including his 2019 surgery, where the damage to his shoulder caused it to separate while he was under anaesthesia.
“When he had it rebuilt at the end of 2019, the shoulder was so loose that as soon as they put him on the operating table, and they gave him the anaesthetic and he relaxed, the shoulder just popped out.
“That is a concern. If it’s not right after seven months, when is it going to be right?”
Marquez has reportedly been dismissive about his fitness behind the scenes at Ducati, telling staffers not to focus on his injury issues too much.
But if his crash, and Oxley’s observations from Jerez are any indication, Marquez’s fitness is a lot worse than many would have expected at this point in the recovery timeline.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
