Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez’s rivals must have thought that they had ‘got rid of him’ with his injury setbacks before he won the Czech Grand Prix, reckons Neil Hodgson.
Brno was the major test for the 2025 champion after winning at Balaton Park, a circuit that is not as physically demanding. Its anti-clockwise layout was better suited to Marquez as he put less strain on his right shoulder.
The Ducati rider has been struggling with his right arm since his accident in Indonesia last year, and Brno would be a huge challenge for him. But he put any doubts behind him as Marquez beat Ai Ogura for the win at the Czech Grand Prix.
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Neil Hodgson says rival teams thought they ‘got rid of’ Marc Marquez
Question marks were being raised about the 33-year-old all weekend. Hodgson was worried about Marquez after the Sprint race, saying that he looked tired and physically drained.
After the Grand Prix, Marquez admitted that he was ’empty’, but he had just enough speed to fend off Ogura and deny the Trackhouse rider his maiden MotoGP win.
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He is now 40 points behind Marco Bezzecchi after the Aprilia rider was suspended from the race for hitting a marshal on Saturday. Hodgson thinks that Marquez’s rivals thought they had ‘got rid of him’ with his injury troubles.
He said via TNT Sports 2 (21/06. 1:53 pm): “He looks as lean as you could possibly be. All the other teams are going: ‘I can’t believe this. I thought we got rid of him.’ He’s back!”
Neil Hodgson is adamant that Marc Marquez is still ‘not 90% fit’
Davide Tardozzi was ‘astonished’ by Marquez at Brno, pointing out that he was not supposed to be fully fit until September. Hodgson also noticed that he was not at 100%, stating that he did not look at 90%.
He added: “I didn’t think that was possible today, I’ll be honest. When Bagnaia was leading and Marc was second, I did not think that was possible. What a ride.
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“He is absolutely destroyed. I promise you, we’ve known him long enough Gav. What a win. I mean, there’s been a few of them. I mean that’s his 101st! There’s been quite a few!
“You’d put that up there, because that’s riding through the pain barrier, not being 100% fit. He’s not 90% fit Gav, I’m not having it. He’s not 90% fit. He’s not.”
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