Marc Marquez feels the crisis when MotoGP 2020 will begin in less than two weeks. The combination of a shoulder injury and an uncompetitive RC213V motorcycle makes Marquez look at MotoGP 2020 pessimistic.
Marquez again became a favorite in MotoGP 2020 after last season ensuring the world title when the season still leaves four series. After four successive titles to win the world title, Marquez deserves to be favored.
But Marquez’s preparations for entering MotoGP 2020 are not perfect, even far from competitive. The 27-year-old rider collapsed in two official tests ahead of the 2020 MotoGP at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia and Losail Qatar.
In the Sepang Circuit test, Marquez collapsed in 13th place and was up to 0.5 seconds adrift of Fabio Quartararo in a three-day combined time record. While until the second day of the test in Losail, Sunday (23/2), The Baby Alien was in position 14 and closed to 1.055 seconds from Quartararo.
Marquez has never won at the Losail Circuit since 2014. But the six-time MotoGP world champion has always been able to finish in the top five in the Qatar MotoGP race since then.
“Of course I am worried because I want to perform fast on every lap, every track. We have a problem and are analyzing what is happening, because all Honda riders have difficulty using a new motorcycle,” Marquez was quoted as saying from Motorsport.
All Honda riders ended the second day of testing in Qatar behind Takaaki Nakagami (tenth position) using the 2012 RC213V motorbike. When Marquez complained about the RC213V motorcycle, it was almost certain that all Honda riders would also have difficulties. Because, so far Honda has always made a ‘special’ engine for Marquez’s racing style.
Broadly speaking, Marquez illustrates the main problem on the RC213V 2020 is on the front of the motorcycle which disturbs comfort and control. Marquez is not confident to operate a motorcycle optimally, especially entering the corner.
But, the main problem with Marquez is not only with the RC213V motorcycle. The Spaniard still has problems with his right shoulder after undergoing surgery in November 2019. Marquez claimed not to be 100 percent fit for the season.
Marquez claimed to have an accident at Turn 8 on the second day of the Losail test because he was unable to withstand the burden of the motorcycle. The combination of an uncompetitive motorcycle and an un-fit body could be resistance for Marquez defending the world title in MotoGP 2020.
Change the Champion Formula
Marquez is known as a rider who likes to take risks in winning. With an unfavorable shoulder condition Marquez has a chance of not being able to do it in MotoGP 2020.
That position makes Marquez just hope RC213V motorbikes can be more competitive than when undergoing tests in Sepang and Losail. But, Honda only has less than two weeks left before appearing in the Qatar MotoGP.
Marquez actually faced a similar problem with the RC213V motorbike at the 2017 MotoGP. At that time Marquez had difficulties at the start of the season after there was a uniform electronic device (ECU) for all the teams in MotoGP 2017. As a result it had trailed by 37 points from Maverick Vinales at the top of the standings.
Marquez was only able to achieve victory in the third series in the United States MotoGP race and then failed to win in four series. The starting point for Marquez came in the middle of the season when Honda was able to align the ECU with the more aggressive 2017 RC213V.
Marquez finally won the 2017 MotoGP world title by beating Andrea Dovizioso after rising in the last 11 series. Marquez successfully went on the podium nine times, including winning five wins.
Now Marquez is anxiously two weeks ahead of the 2020 MotoGP because signs of danger are in sight. If Honda is not able to repair RC213V, and if The Baby Alien is unable to recover quickly from a right shoulder problem, then it will be difficult for Marquez to return to the championship.
