Marc Marquez during the first free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix on April 30 in Jerez. – Julio Munoz / EFE / Sipa
If we believe his team, there is more fear than harm. Yet the images are chilling. Marc Marquez (Honda) crashed heavily on Saturday during free practice 3 of the MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, where
the Spaniard was injured last July before missing the entire 2020 season.
The six-time world champion got up but appeared completely stunned after falling in a high-speed left turn. “After a medical check-up, Marc Marquez has no major injuries and only suffers from a contusion,” Honda said on Twitter.
Marc Marquez standing but stunned after a crash at very high speed on the same circuit where he had crashed violently last season 🔴😕#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 | https://t.co/6vTgdTN2gP pic.twitter.com/2FY3HLb8lW
– CANAL + MotoGP ™ (@CanalplusMotoGP) May 1, 2021
The 28-year-old driver, who made his return to the previous Grand Prix in Portimao (Portugal) on April 18 after nine months of absence and three right arm operations, slipped on his left arm. If he was able to get up quickly, the psychological impact could be significant while he is still in the recovery phase.
Groggy and back to the paddock
Under the worried gaze of his engineers, he did not get back on his motorcycle and joined the paddock. The Spaniard was unable to finish his quick lap and achieve a time capable of placing him in the top 10. He has the twelfth combined fastest time in the first three free practice sessions.
In the combined classification of the two sessions on Friday and that of Saturday morning, the Japanese Takaaki Nakagami (Honda-LCR) is ahead of the Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), leader of the world championship, only 25 / 1000th, and the German Stefan Bradl (Honda) at 41 / 1000th.