The Spaniard makes his comeback Saturday and Sunday in Malaysia, for tests of a pre-season which he hopes will be that of his return to the fore and a highly anticipated duel with French world champion Fabio Quartararo, says he in an interview with AFP.
QUESTION: In what state of mind do you begin these first tests?
ANSWER: "With a lot of desire. It's already a gift to be here after spending the winter injured, with this problem of double vision. Everything was decided a bit at the last moment but I'm very happy. "
Q: Are you apprehensive?
A: "Since October I have missed the last two races, and the first pre-season test in Jerez in November. Today I am lucky to be back, I feel calm because it is a test, nobody wins, nobody loses. It's about riding, testing the bike. Then we'll go to Indonesia for more tests (February 11-13). The goal is to be at 100 % or at least not far at the start of the season in Qatar (March 6, editor's note).
Q: Do you see the end of the tunnel after two difficult seasons?
A: "I hope it's the end of the tunnel! Since 2020, when I broke my arm, there have been a lot of problems, it's been a bumpy road. And last year, when it looked like the arm was better, I was winning again, I had this injury, this diplopia. But today everything looks good, the vision is perfect, the arm is better too."
Marc Marquez after a fall during qualifying for the MotoGP of Emilia-Romagna at Misano, October 23, 2021 ANDREAS SOLARO AFP / Archives
Q: Did you dread not being able to get back on a motorcycle?
A: "Yes, finally, it's not that I doubted, it was one of the options presented by my doctor. I have known this doctor since 2011 when I already had the same injury. There, from the beginning he told me clearly that there were three options: wait for time to act, the best option, and which came true The 2nd was to wait but the lesion does not resolve naturally, d 'operate and be out until the summer. And the 3rd was to operate directly, while not being sure of regaining sufficient vision to continue in MotoGP. This one was not on the table ".
Q: Were you still able to prepare properly?
A: "It was not a perfect physical preparation, I started training the second week of January. With the double vision, I had difficulty running, I could not ride a bike either outside. And when I went to the gym at the beginning, in November, I got dizzy when there was too much light."
Q: Fabio Quartararo is now champion.
Are we going to have a duel between you and the Frenchman?
A: "I hope I can have this duel, because it would mean that I am in the fight for the title after two years without being able to do it. But it will not be just a duel, it will be a battle with a lot of drivers. Fabio was champion, and he deserves to be because he was the most consistent, but Pecco Bagnaia ended the year being the fastest with the Ducati. Logically, the favorite is the defending champion, Fabio , because he was champion and everyone wants to beat him. But I see these two as favorites. Behind, there will be other players who will have an important role to play."
Q: Has the younger generation taken over?
A: "In every sport there are generational changes, it's normal. And that's where you have to work, know how to reinvent yourself, find a new method to stay at the same level and continue to win. At 28 years old (29 on February 17, editor's note), even if I still feel young, I will be one of the most experienced drivers. It's up to me to use this experience to fight for the title."
Q: Is your compatriot Rafael Nadal, winner of the Australian Open after an injury, a source of inspiration?
A: "I think Rafa Nadal is an inspiration to everyone, whether athletic or not. What he's done is amazing. To come back after an injury, when a lot of people said he was finished, and win at 35 years, against a young talent N.2 in the world (Daniil Medvedev, 25 years old). This is the dream scenario and what I will try to do."
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