In the history of Honda in Grand Prix, we note that there are champions, injured and injured champions. And not just a little. At the start, there is the current eight-time world champion Marc Marquez who is working to recover all the functions of his right arm, there is the team manager Alberto Puig who has a leg repaired with the contribution of an external body of bovine origin, or Mick Doohan who narrowly saved his, which convinced him to stop his career. The Australian has this in common with the Spaniard that in their time they were references and they fought to come back. So, obviously, it creates links…
And these bonds developed as the injury to the right humerus of Marc Marquez experienced twists and turns. The official Honda always thanked his illustrious elder for listening. He knew what his younger brother was talking to him about. We will indeed remember that a serious injury almost cost him his right leg in 1992, and that another terrible fall during practice for the 1999 Spanish Grand Prix prematurely ended his career spent under the awning at the golden wing and marked by five consecutive titles in 500cc between 1994 and 1998.
So when Marc Marquez call Mick doohan to talk about his fortunes and misfortunes, what is the legend of the Grands Prix in response to him? He responds on AS : " my first concern is his safety, his health, his life after the races. Because running, if you look at it in hindsight, is only a very small part of your life. We've spoken several times now, more often since he had injuries a few years ago. The injury I had and the one he has are not comparable, but psychologically we have the same thoughts. I guess I'm trying to help him digest it all through the experience of someone who's been through something similar ».
As a result, it is psychological support that provides Mick Doohan à Marc Marquez. He says on this subject: “ Marc is clearly still very fast and mentally strong. What you feel is frustration. The biggest disappointment, as a pilot, is the frustration of knowing that we can no longer run like before. Sometimes you exceed the limit, because physically you are not capable of driving at the same level. That's why, I'm sure, he's taking time off to recover, to repair his arm properly, to get back to one hundred percent. Thus, he will be able to ride the motorcycle as he needs, without compromising his safety, to return to victory ».
Mick Doohan: “ if he's ever won with one arm...with two arms and two legs, I think he can do it«
Because the Australian is convinced: the outcome of this long and terrible ordeal will be a return to the forefront, like the Phoenix rising from its ashes... " He has already shown he can win races with one arm. Like I said, he's very strong mentally, he's won six MotoGP titles and you don't do that if you're a softie. He is one of the best of all time. Until the moment he decided to quit (midway through the 2022 season), he was still among the fastest. I don't see any problem for him to come back after six months, do some tests, get back in shape and be able to compete with whoever is in front.
« He may not have done many races since, but he already knows how to compete. What is he, 29 years old? In fact, he is still young. If he's physically good, if he can compete at the highest level, if he's already won with one arm... with two arms and two legs, I think he's capable of doing it. "He assures.
In any case, he made the right decision by undertaking this fourth operation: “ It's a very difficult decision, but this shows that Marc is very intelligent, very strong, because he made the right decision. There was no point in continuing, more damage could be done and he couldn't ride like he knows how. Besides, he wasn't going to win this championship. Health is a priority, let's focus on the arm then next season " finished Doohan.
