The Italian Grand Prix this year was the representation of Ducati’s immense joy for a triumph on several fronts, but it had its toughest emotional side: it was Marc Marquez’s last before surgery, the fourth to which he will undergo to try to definitively resolve the problem in his injured right arm almost two years ago in the Jerez race.
The season therefore ended well in advance for the Honda rider, who in the return lap after the Mugello race was greeted and supported by all the other riders on the grid, who hope to see him back on track again as we have always been used to. know him. The future in the team is absolutely not in question either for the Cervera rider or for HRC, during the press conference both Marquez and Alberto Puig explained how much the decision to stop now is in view of a return, hopefully, in top form in 2023.
Marc Marquez will fly to the United States for surgery, thus leaving his RC213V in the hands of Stefan Bradl, who is called to replace him, and the reins of the official team to Pol Espargaro, the other owner who will be called to bring good results, starting from Catalunya Grand Prix. This weekend, in fact, the home race arrives for the Granollers rider, who after the rumors of the market that give him out of HRC and the difficult weekends that he has had to face, will seek redemption.
Pol Espargaro, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“I know the home fans will give me an extra boost this weekend,” says Pol Espargaro. “After some tough races, this is just what I need to get our year back to where it should be. I arrive motivated and concentrated as always and right from free practice 1 we will work to achieve our goals. There are still many races to go and what we will discover in these races will help us a lot at the end of the year. Furthermore, with Monday’s test, we will have a lot of time on the bike to be able to understand everything ”.
But Pol Espargaro will not be alone in the garage, because Stefan Bradl is back. The Honda test rider will get on Marquez’s bike to replace him in his absence: “First of all I want to wish Marc all the best for his operation and his recovery. I am available for everything HRC and the Repsol Honda Team need until Marc returns. We have all seen the level of MotoGP, so we know what the challenge awaits us, but I am confident that by working with Honda and the team we can achieve something. Let’s see what the weekend has in store for us, it will be important to do a lot of laps and prepare well for Monday’s test ”.
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