With the first official MotoGP test of the year at Sepang just around the corner (February 7-9), Marc Marquez reports recovery from his shoulder surgery in late November is progressing relatively slowly. He says he expects to be at no more than “60-70%” as testing kicks off. Apparently, the surgery damaged some nerves, and Marquez stated he had very little strength in the shoulder until just a couple of weeks ago. With his dominance of the MotoGP category, one might think that a “less than 100%” Marquez would still be competitive. Watch for our Sepang testing report.
In other MotoGP news, Maverick Viñales signed a contract extension with the Yamaha Factory team — extending his factory rider status through the 2022 season. Here is a press announcement from Yamaha:
It is with great pleasure that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. confirm Maverick Viñales as one of the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP riders for the 2021 and 2022 season.
Viñales has shown great riding, motivation, and consistency so far in his three years of racing with the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team in the MotoGP World Championship. The successful partnership led to a third place in the overall standings in 2017, a fourth place in 2018, and another third place in 2019.
Further Yamaha highlights on the Spaniard‘s résumé are 6 wins and 19 podiums, including his Yamaha debut race and Yamaha‘s 500th GP win in Le Mans, both in 2017, as well as 9 poles in total out of 55 Grand Prix weekends aboard the YZR-M1.
These achievements on top of his undeniable talent and unshakable determination have Yamaha fully confident in their partnership with the 25-year-old. On 6 February they will start the first MotoGP Test of this year in Sepang, Malaysia, kicking off their 2020 campaign to clinch the premier class title.
See more of MD’s great photography:
Vinales signed, and now I hear Quatararo signed with the factory Yamaha squad for 2021 & 2022. Rossi is either retiring or getting demoted to Quatararo’s old ride after the 2020 season.
I thought Rossi was going to have current, factory spec equipment, support and contract after 2020 if he chooses to continue. Will just move over to Petronas. Something tells me he’s going to decide to retire at the end of 2020 even though he said he wasn’t. Will be interesting to watch.
Sounds to me somebody is trying to artificially make the 2020 season more interesting. Planting doubts of MM’s ability to draw back people tired of watching boring MM dominated races. Or not.
Marquez has gotten away with many machine get-offs finding the traction limits, but it’s obviously finally catching up to him. These physical problems might be what prevents Marc from running his title totals past his historical rivals.
Marquez is only 25 and still in great shape. No one else has come close to beating him over a season’s time. He will win many more titles.
Both valid points. But while I think injuries will eventually affect him, I believe like Mickey it will be after he runs his totals past historical rivals.
He’s done a mature thing and gone for corrective surgery on a shoulder that has been good enough to win on. Assuming it recovers strength and is more stable, it’ll be better in the long run.
It’ll all come down to his will, which shows no sign of weakening. Remember that Mick Doohan won on a lower leg that was so badly damaged he had to invent a new way to actuate the rear brake (which other’s copied because it became a traction control device..).
Wow, interesting. 2020/1 silly season is gonna be ridiculous but this is an early “huh.” Yamaha clearly on board with what is now their best shot. VR46 it was great but the Dan had a song “Change of the Guard” and I guess it’s official.