ALEX MARQUEZ SAYS HE IS STILL NOT FULLY OVER HIS CATALAN CRASH AFTER SUMMER BREAK

Alex Marquez says the physical issues that followed his major Catalan Grand Prix crash are still affecting him as MotoGP returns to action at Silverstone. The Gresini Racing rider explained that his limitations trace back to the huge crash in May, from which he came back after suffering a fractured vertebra. He returned to racing at the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of June, but even with a four-week summer break, he felt low on energy by the end of Friday at the British Grand Prix.

Speaking after Practice at Silverstone, Marquez said he didn’t experiment much during the session, pointing instead to how his body was coping with the workload. “I didn't try many things,” he said. “Just this afternoon, for me one hour is too long. I arrived a little bit like [at the limit] with the force. I was too tired in the afternoon.” He added that his fatigue also played a role in how he approached the rear tyre options, noting that he had focused heavily on the medium rear. “It's true that I focused a lot with the medium rear. Everybody tried the medium and then the soft, or opposite [order], and I arrived a little bit in that point with no information and not knowing [...] where I need to go more aggressive or not.”

Despite the physical constraint, Marquez insisted the overall situation was manageable and that the field remains tightly packed. “But it was fine. Everything is quite close.” He also acknowledged that the Aprilias appear to be strong at Silverstone, while stressing that the gap is not insurmountable. “It's true that the Aprilias here are flying as we expected, but we are not far.” Looking ahead, he suggested that if he can address the small issues, he can still make progress. “Small problems, but I think that tomorrow if we can solve it, we can make a good step forward, and on race pace we are not bad, so this is the good thing.”

On qualifying and the possibility of challenging for the front, Marquez said it would only become clear after the session. “After the quali we will know if we have chances or not,” he said. He pointed to the Aprilias’ apparent rhythm and pace in both race simulation and time attack. “But it looks like the Aprilias here have rhythm and also time attack, so it will be difficult to compete with them.” Still, he believes his own race pace is comparable. “But we need to strike the maximum potential because I think we have race pace in a good way, similar to them.” He also offered a blunt assessment of what the grid position could mean: “But, you know if you are P7 in quali, then it will be difficult.”

Marquez’s comments also reflected how the track itself is demanding on the body. He said he had expected to feel better at Silverstone, but the circuit’s physical demands have limited him. “I was expecting to be better, but it's true that it's a track that is quite demanding on the physical side,” he said. “For that reason, this afternoon, one hour [...] I arrived in the end a little bit too on the limit, but not big problems.”

He added that pain was present earlier in the day and that he is not yet fully back to 100%. “It's true that today in the morning I felt a little bit pain and not one hundred per cent.” Marquez stressed that the crash was significant and that recovery will take more time. “But it will be a big process, the crash was big and I will need some more time.”

With three weeks of recovery time after the British Grand Prix, he said the next period is crucial. “After [the British Grand Prix] we have three weeks more, so it will be important to recover and to be better.” He suggested that the pain or limitation may become something he has to manage rather than something that disappears immediately. “But maybe it's a pain or it's a limitation that I will need to [know] how to live with them, with that pain. So maybe just my life changed a little bit, but for the rest I'm feeling good.”