Alex Barros drew on his own experience with shoulder injuries when speaking about Marc Marquez’s recent struggles.
Marquez’s injuries have become a bigger talking point this year, especially with the way his performances have dropped off compared to his usual standard.
Some have pointed to braking issues linked to the injury, which could explain what happened at Jerez. But Marc Marquez must go easy on himself, as he still hasn’t fully recovered. In fact, one former MotoGP rider who has struggled with these injuries believes Marquez needs a lot more time to get back to 100%.
Ahead of the French Grand Prix in Le Mans this weekend, a familiar topic surrounding Marquez was up for discussion again: Will he be able to regain full fitness?
The only reason Barros is ruling out the prospect of another world title for Marquez comes down to how quickly he can recover.
If things fall into place and he stays patient, Barros feels there’s still time for him to make it happen again at the top level – though it will take longer than some might hope. Others in the sport haven’t been as optimistic, but Barros is holding onto hope that we haven’t seen the last of Marquez competing at the sharp end of MotoGP grids.
Alex Barros details how long it could take Marc Marquez to recover from shoulder issues
In a chat with Nico Abad, Alex Barros weighed in on how Marc Marquez has been faring this season and shared his thoughts on what he’s seen so far.
Barros mentioned that Marquez’s run of injuries is showing up in his riding. Reflecting on his own history with shoulder problems, he believes it could take nearly a full year for Marquez to feel right again.
“I’m starting to enjoy Marc’s bad luck (laughs). We have really bad luck with everything. Sometimes, it happens, but I have to say that today, given everything that’s happening, it shows in your physique.
“I’ve had problems with my shoulders, I’ve had surgery, and I know it’s very complicated. When I found out that he had tendon problems, it usually takes a year to recover 100%.
“Before that, you won’t get it back. There’s no way to recover fully. 80%, 90%? Maybe, but 100% is hard.”
Alex Barros backs Marc Marquez to win MotoGP title despite injury setbacks
Barros also pointed to Ducati’s recent improvements during the Jerez tests, saying they look ready to give Marquez the tools he needs for a title challenge.
“Anyway, I have to put my chips in on the championship as it is today. I would put it on Marc because I know Ducati has made some jumps on Monday. I’ve already seen some positive things.
“We know Aprilia is very strong. But Alex won on a Ducati in an extraordinary race there. MotoGP is beautiful because we have competitive motorcycle brands, and as a fan, I would like all the brands to be competitive.”
Marquez was complimentary of Ducati’s progress after the tests on Monday, suggesting that he had a renewed sense of confidence in his team.
The French Grand Prix might just offer him a chance to close the gap between himself and current championship leader Marco Bezzecchi.
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