Marc Marquez to make Ducati return in private Valencia test

Almost 100 days after injuring his shoulder at the start of the Indonesian Grand Prix on 5 October, Marc Marquez will return to the asphalt of a circuit astride a sports bike later this week.

Marquez will ride a road-going Ducati Panigale, which has been suitably prepared to provide maximum feedback to the current MotoGP world champion.

This Thursday and Friday, Marquez is scheduled to take to the Aspar Circuit, a track located in the Valencian town of Guadassuar. In a short time, the track has become a benchmark for many riders in the world championship.

Alongside the seven-time MotoGP world champion will be his brother Alex Marquez riding another Ducati Panigale, and other riders are also expected to appear over the two days of private testing.

According to information obtained by Motorsport.com, the Italian team’s team manager Davide Tardozzi will also be present at the first on-track session for Marc Marquez, underlining the importance of the event.

In addition, Ducati will send technical staff to Valencia to provide support to its star rider, who will be the main attraction at the official presentation to be held at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort on 19 January.

Three months after the injury

After clinching the 2025 MotoGP world title on 28 September in Japan, Marquez was injured a week later at the start of the Indonesian GP, when Aprila's Marco Bezzecchi hit him from behind, causing a fracture to the Spaniard’s right shoulder — the same arm he injured in 2020. 

Initially, it did not appear to be a serious injury, but Marquez ultimately had to undergo surgery, missing the remainder of the season. Since then, the Ducati rider had only ridden a bike once, on 23 December, when he travelled to the Alcarras circuit to train with a Ducati MX on dirt — something entirely different from an asphalt sports bike.

Marc Marquez, Panigale V4 S, Balaton Park

Photo by: Ducati Corse

Motorsport.com understands that Marquez’s programme this Thursday will begin with the Ducati Panigale V2, a road-going superbike offering 155 hp and weighing 176 kg. The bike features a 955cc Superquadro twin-cylinder engine producing 104 Nm of torque. It is a less physically demanding bike than the Panigale V4S, with its 1103 cc engine delivering nearly 220 hp and 123 Nm of torque. Even so, Marquez has both models in his garage and can choose whichever he prefers, although initially, for these two days in Valencia, the focus will be on the V2.

Possible test at Portimao

In addition to this outing in Guadassuar, Marquez will have another opportunity, should he deem it appropriate, to return to the track in Portimao at the end of January, when Ducati's World Superbike team organises a test at the Portuguese circuit. As it has done in recent years, that test is open to all MotoGP riders from the brand, who can take part using the Panigale V4S.

It was at one of these tests held at the Algarve Autodrome two years ago when then-Pramac rider Franco Morbidelli suffered a very heavy crash that left him unconscious on the track. Marquez was preparing for his Gresini debut alongside his brother Alex at the Portuguese track, and the two brothers were the first to pass through the area where the Italian had fallen, attempting to assist him and raising the alarm to the marshals, who evacuated Morbidelli to Faro hospital.