MotoGP: Marc Marquez after Qatar test: “I’m struggling more here.”

The reigning World Champion’s shoulder injury doesn’t seem to be getting any easier at the Qatar Test.

Despite having made his MotoGP comeback at the Sepang Test without any serious problems, Marc Marquez has admitted that he is suffering more with his recovering shoulder at the Qatar Test, two weeks on from spending three days in Malaysia.

The nature of the Losail International Circuit has seen the reigning World Champion suffer more with pain and strength in his right shoulder, with the number of right-hand corners giving Marquez bother. And that became apparent on Day 2, with Marquez admitting that his Turn 8 crash was caused by pushing too much with his legs, compensating for his lack of strength in the shoulder.

“The crash was at turn 8 when I changed direction,” began Marquez, explaining his Day 2 fall. “At that point I changed direction in another way to normal, and especially when I’m tired I push a lot with my legs because I cannot do it with my shoulders, and I pushed too much with my legs, lost the front and with the shoulder I couldn’t come back and I just fell down from the bike. Apart from that we are lucky to be okay.”

The number 93 also gave an update on his condition after the opening day in Qatar, confirming it’s not just his shoulder that is the problem at this circuit. 

“It’s true that in this circuit I’m struggling even more than I did in Malaysia. Malaysia was a different riding style, here with the long corners, the long right corners, I’m struggling a little bit more. I was able to ride more or less but we tried not to stress in the first day. Still, we must work a lot because at this circuit, like every year, all our weak points are here in Qatar. At the moment we are far from the front guys.”

The news will strengthen the rumour that Marc Marquez could still miss the first two rounds of the year because his seriously damaged right shoulder needs pre-season surgery. If the eight-time champion does elect to have the operation on the joint, it’s likely that he would struggle to return until late in March.