Marc Marquez was left 'frozen' watching Alex's Barcelona MotoGP crash

Marc opens up on the impact Alex's accident had on him as he prepares for his own comeback from injuries at Mugello

Marc Marquez has admitted he was left 'frozen' by his brother Alex Marquez's horrific crash in MotoGP's Catalan Grand Prix.

Factory Ducati rider Marc Marquez was sidelined from the Barcelona race after suffering a foot injury the previous weekend and getting double surgery that also addressed a shoulder issue.

Staying at home over the weekend, the nine-time world champion followed the race on TV to support his brother Alex, who was one of the favourites for victory after winning the half-distance sprint the previous day.

After twelve of the 24 scheduled laps, Alex Marquez was chasing race leader Pedro Acosta when the factory KTM suddenly slowed down with a technical issue. That loss of speed caused Alex’s Ducati to collide with Acosta's bike, sending him flying off to the right side of the track, into the grass run-off, where both bike and rider were sent flying through the air in dramatic footage.

“Well, I experienced the accident at home, naturally I was left frozen in front of the television,” Marc Marquez conceded on Thursday after making his first public appearance since the crash.

“Luckily, and I want to thank the championship because they kept informing me at all times of what was being said over the radio, I knew at every moment how the rider was doing,” in reference to his brother, who lost consciousness after receiving blows to the head and to the complicated C7 vertebra, which fortunately did not break.

“We were very lucky, motorcycling in general, not only because of Alex’s crash, also because of Johann Zarco’s," he said.

“But logically, when something like that happens to a family member, it affects you much more. I had a very bad time all Sunday. On Monday, once I was able to hug him, I was calmer.”

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Photo by: DANIEL BALLARIN / AFP via Getty Images

Marc traveled to Mugello after receiving clearance from his trusted doctors, and this Thursday he was declared fit by MotoGP’s medical director to participate in FP1 and undergo further examination.

For the Ducati rider, experiencing Alex’s accident, unexpectedly, at home and on television was one of the worst moments he remembers, and one that left a deep impact.

“Honestly, it is one of the moments in which you best understand the risk there is. It’s like you accept it, you understand that we run risks, but you always think it’s not going to happen to you," he said.

"That’s how it is, that happens, you accept it, it’s difficult to explain, but until it affects a family member, you don’t experience it the same way.

"We know that risk exists, it’s there, but doing 44 starts every year with these bikes does not help minimise it.

“I experienced it badly, but luckily everything remained just a scare in the crash. He has had a bad time all week [after the crash], I saw him in pain, but now he is already improving, recovering his smile and starting to be himself again."