Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has shown ‘incredible’ discipline and mental strength to make yet another injury comeback in MotoGP, Angel Charte says.
Marquez returned to the top step of the podium in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, his first victory since Misano last September.
In the intervening period, the world champion underwent surgery on his shoulder twice (all stemming from an incident with Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia) and also broke bones in his foot (in a Le Mans Sprint crash).
Marc Marquez is now 72 points off Marco Bezzecchi after the Hungarian GP 👀 How do you rate his title chances now?
Angel Charte praises Marc Marquez’s ‘huge heart’
Marquez took a risk by returning at the Italian Grand Prix after just one full race weekend on the sidelines in Barcelona. In an interview with El Periodico at Balaton Park, MotoGP medical director Angel Charte said he had his ‘doubts’.
Indeed, there were some in the paddock who wrote Marquez off when he announced his double surgery after Le Mans. They questioned whether the motivation would come from after he won his seventh premier-class title last season, which he considered his crowning achievement.
But Charte says that couldn’t be further from the truth. Ominously for his rivals, Marquez still isn’t back to full strength as he tries to rebuild the muscle around his right shoulder.
“Everything is going well, very well,” said Charte. “This guy is incredibly tough, very strong, both mentally and physically, and above all, he has a huge heart and an incredible passion for his sport and profession. Well, like all of them.
Marc Marquez is now 72 points off Marco Bezzecchi after the Hungarian GP 👀 How do you rate his title chances now?
“Everything is going very well. I had my doubts when I examined him in Mugello last week, I won’t lie to you, but he has been incredibly disciplined with the steps he needs to take, and he’s also being very mentally strong, which is vital.
“Now all that’s left—and yes, there is still work to be done—is for him to regain strength, muscle mass, and tone in his right shoulder. And, as he says, it won’t happen in three days.”
Marquez produced a perfect weekend – pole, Sprint win, race win – for the first time since Hungary last year. Pedro Acosta pushed him hard throughout, but ultimately didn’t have enough.
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