Stefan Bradl, by giving his feelings on what awaits him in the coming months in his program with Honda, provides a fairly clear indication of the timetable for a convalescing Marc Marquez. And the key word for fans of the eight-time World Champion will still be patience. The German, in a sentence full of meaning, makes it clear that we will not see the Spaniard any time soon...
Stefan bradl has been on the move since Brno 2020 and Honda don't let go. A grip that is not about to be relieved. So, Marc Marquez, whom he replaces, returned to training on an indoor bike after three upper arm operations, two bone transplants and an infection. He always wears a carbon orthosis to protect his right arm and has so far only done weight training with his left arm...
Furthermore, it is becoming common knowledge that the one who won six of the seven world championship titles in MotoGP from 2013 to 2019 is the subject of a investigation from his employer Honda who thinks he was misled about an opening window which allegedly broke the plate placed on his humerus during the first operation.
"JUntil now, HRC has not given me any news on Marc's state of health." , said Stefan bradl in an interview given to speedweek. “I'm sure I'll do the first official tests in Doha and so on. »
Stefan Bradl will be the sharpest of all drivers in Qatar
The " and so on » pronounced by the German has its effect and requires a little more clarification… “ Marc has made it known that he wants to be 100% fit when he returns ", remember Bradl. " That's why I suspect it will take longer than the two months before the Qatar Grand Prix. For this reason, I prepare myself physically. I haven't had a break since the season finale on November 22. It was good for my physical condition. The four days of testing in Jerez this week and last week were also helpful. In February, there are still enough testing days on the plan. Hope we get lucky with the weather and can use it ».
A series of runs which is beginning to challenge the competition... Indeed, during the IRTA test in Qatar in March, Bradl will meet regular drivers who have not driven on the MotoGP for three and a half months, while, during this period, he will have carried out more than ten days of testing…
« There is nothing to gain from testing », wants to reassure the former World Champion Moto2. " During the first two or three days of testing, colleagues must remove winter rust. Then the new development parts must be sorted and all settings tried. These first days of testing will not be decisive in determining who the favorites will be. There are so many drivers and factories at an equally high level. I assume the balance of power will continue as we saw it in the fall of the season ».
« My goal is of course to continue at a similar level to what we left in Portugal “, said the seven-time Grand Prix winner. “ But that's not what mainly concerns me now. The first thing to do is to bring the bike for the new season as we want. In Qatar, we will see how strong we are alone and in Doha. In the past, Ducati has always been very strong in Qatar. However, we haven't raced there in two years. The balance of power has changed enormously since then. Honda stumbled during the Losail test in February 2020. But our bike has certainly become more powerful since then ". We will remind you that in the Repsol Honda box, there will be a new driver: Pol Espargaro.
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