Marquez won't race again in 2020 MotoGP season
Repsol Honda has confirmed Marc Marquez will not return for the rest of the 2020 MotoGP season and will continue with his rehabilitation to target a comeback next year.
Honda cleared up speculation around Marquez returning for the final two races of the season by announcing Stefan Bradl will continue to be his replacement in both the Valencia Grand Prix and the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Marquez suffered a broken right arm during the first race of the reshaped 2020 MotoGP season at Jerez in July and after undergoing surgery, he attempted to return the following week at the Andalusian GP but withdrew after practice due to the injury.
Marquez then had to undergo a second surgery in early August to replace the plate in his arm which had broken.
In late August, Honda announced Marquez would be "out of action for two to three months," which suggested that the rider could reappear in the final stretch of the championship.
But this possibility hasn't been reached amid his ongoing recovery and with Honda opting not to take risks as Marquez continues his rehabilitation he will switch his focus to the 2021 season.
"As his recovery continues, Marc Marquez and the Repsol Honda Team confirm he will not participate in the remainder of the 2020 MotoGP season and aims to return to racing in 2021," a statement from Honda confirmed.
"Working through his recovery programme and tracking the progress of his arm, Marc Marquez in conjunction with Honda, his team and multiple expert doctors, has elected to officially delay his return to action until 2021."
With Marquez unable to return, Honda test rider Bradl will duly complete the 2020 campaign alongside Alex Marquez. The German rider has secured three points finishes during his stand-in role, with the highlight of eighth place in the wet Le Mans race.
"First of all I want to wish Marc all the best in his continued recovery and thank HRC for giving me this opportunity," Bradl said.
"We have made a lot of progress since Le Mans and I have felt my level increase with more bike time and working with the Repsol Honda Team. The week of data will help us and the forecast is looking better at the moment. It's going to be a busy end to the year but I am looking forward to it."
Related video
Morbidelli forced to ride in “safety mode” due to pressure issue
Iannone appeal rejected, doping ban increased to four years
The Rossi-less future MotoGP must now navigate
Motorcycle racing's greatest showman has left the stage, as Valentino Rossi calls time on his remarkable career on two wheels. But in his successors, all of whom were inspired by 'the Doctor', grand prix racing has vibrant new acts to keep us hooked
Valentino Rossi’s 10 greatest MotoGP races
As the Italian legend finally bows out and retires from MotoGP, it marks the end of one of the most incredible careers in motorsport history. Here is Motorsport.com's pick of his best rides and the stories behind them
How Ducati has drawn first blood in the 2022 MotoGP title race
The 2021 MotoGP season may have only just ended but preparations for 2022 are well underway following a two-day test at Jerez this week. Ducati has hit the ground running while a lack of progress dominated Yamaha’s and world champion Fabio Quartararo’s test. While no battle lines have been drawn yet for 2022, it appears Ducati has already drawn first blood...
Why Suzuki's quest for a new MotoGP boss may be too late
Suzuki is on the search for a new team manager after its decision not to replace Davide Brivio at the start of 2021 was backed up by its unsuccessful bid to help Joan Mir defend his 2020 MotoGP world title. But whoever Shinichi Sahara appoints next, it may have already come too late to convince Mir to stick with the project
How Rossi got the perfect send-off to his MotoGP career
The greatest chapter in MotoGP history came to a close at the Valencia Grand Prix as Valentino Rossi bid farewell after 26 seasons of grand prix racing. While his run to a strong 10th was a pleasing end to his time in MotoGP, it was what happened at the front of the grid that capped the Italian's ideal send-off
Why MotoGP's under-fire graduate has a point to prove
OPINION: MotoGP-bound Darryn Binder was already under the microscope as his jump from Moto3 to join RNF's new top-class team was announced. But his crash with title hopeful Dennis Foggia caused significant consternation among the ranks - with many current riders suggesting the top level should be harder to break into as a result
How Portugal exposed the biggest threat to Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo’s first DNF of his title-winning 2021 MotoGP season couldn’t have come at a better time. But the events of the Yamaha rider’s Algarve Grand Prix exposed the M1’s well-known major weakness, which could threaten his championship defence given the increasingly Ducati-heavy makeup of the grid heading into 2022
What's really fuelling junior bike racing's dangerous aggression
The pressure shouldered by young riders is at the root of the increased on-track aggression seen in lower categories of late, which motorcycling's governing bodies want to curb with new rules. But will stopping under-18s from racing in the world championship and capping grid sizes prevent the often desperate acts of youths pursuing their MotoGP dreams?