Marquez to miss MotoGP season openers in Qatar

Bengaluru, March 22: Six-time world champion Marc Marquez, who is continuing his recovery from injury, will miss the opening two rounds of the 2021 FIM MotoGP World Championship season to be held at Qatar.

The 2021 MotoGP season begins with back-to-back races under lights at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar on March 28 and April 4 respectively.

"After the last check-up with the medical team, they've advised me not to participate in the two Qatar races so we'll continue with the recovery to return to compete as soon as possible!," the Repsol Honda rider tweeted, much to the disappointment of his fans all over the world.

It may be recalled that the 28-year-old fractured his humerus in the opening race in Jerez last year and had to withdraw from the next Grand Prix after attempting to return. He underwent three operations, the latest of which was carried out in December after it was discovered he had sustained an infection in the fracture.

As per a Repsol Honda statement, in the review carried out on the Spanish rider by the medical team led by doctors Samuel Antuna and Ignacio Roger de Ona, 15 weeks after surgery for an infected pseudoarthrosis of the right humerus, a good clinical response has been found after the intensification of his training.

However, considering the time period and the current state of the bone consolidation process, doctors consider it prudent and necessary not to accelerate Marquez's return to the track after such an inactive time, and to avoid putting the humerus at risk in intense competition.

"I would've loved to be able to participate in the opening race of the World Championship, but we'll have to continue working to be able to recover the optimal conditions that allow us to return to competition," added Marquez, who is set to undergo another medical check up on April 12.

The season opening Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar will be held on March 28. That will be followed by the Tissot Grand Prix of Doha on April 4.

Marquez would ideally be now targeting his return to competitive action for the Portugal Grand Prix to be held at the Algarve International Circuit on April 18.