Marquez expects shoulder recovery to take “all winter”

Marc Marquez says his recovery from shoulder surgery will take “all the winter” and faces a race against time to be fully fit for the Sepang shakedown test in early February.

The reigning MotoGP world champion successfully underwent left shoulder surgery yesterday less than one week after completing the final post-season test in Jerez. The operation, performed by MotoGP’s Dr Mir, will aim to fix the Repsol Honda rider’s recurring shoulder dislocation injury.

Speaking before his operation at the Jerez test, Marquez predicted his recovery will take all winter, with Repsol Honda confirming a six-week recovery timeframe post-operation, and remains uncertain if he’ll be “100%” fit for the opening 2019 test at Sepang on February 1-3.

“Recovery [will take] all the winter,” Marquez said. “Because it’s a long recovery, and I will not arrive at Malaysia maybe 100%, it will be tight.

“So all the winter will be concentrated on my shoulder, and then I will have all of February and March to work about my physical condition.”

Marquez suffered two shoulder dislocations across the final rounds of the 2018 MotoGP campaign – during his title celebrations at Motegi being congratulated by Scott Redding and in his qualifying at Valencia – which made surgery a priority to avoid further injuries.

The opening Sepang test is just over eight weeks away, providing Marquez a tight turnaround to be riding fully fit at the shakedown test before remaining in Malaysia for the official test at the same venue on February 6-8.

Buenos días a todos! Ya me encuentro mejor Gracias por los mensajes de ánimo!
Good morning! I feel better Thanks for your support messages! pic.twitter.com/nLJ1Qbq8Ek

— Marc Márquez (@marcmarquez93) December 5, 2018