Marc Marquez has confirmed he is taking a cautious approach ahead of his planned MotoGP return at Mugello this weekend, as the reigning champion continues to recover from both a fractured foot and a recent shoulder operation. Marquez, who missed the Catalunya round after his Le Mans Sprint crash, emphasized that his main goal is to “test my feelings and physical condition” aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP.
“The recovery is progressing as planned, I’ve gone back to training normally over the last few days and I will be on track mainly to test my actual feelings and physical condition,” Marquez said. “Both surgeries went well, but we are proceeding with all due caution and with the final medical checks at the track.”
Pending a final check on Thursday, Marquez is set to return at Ducati’s home event, where he swept both races last season. “Mugello is an incredible track, to be honest also a very demanding one, but the support of all the Ducatisti will be an extra motivational booster to do well,” he added.
Teammate Pecco Bagnaia also looks forward to the Italian GP, calling Mugello “one of the most beautiful on the calendar.” Bagnaia, fresh from Ducati Lenovo’s first podium of the season in Barcelona despite a heavy impact in Turn 1, said, “I’m ready and we keep working hard with the whole Team. I can’t wait to get on track… the podium in Barcelona was needed for all the crew, especially after a day like the last Sunday with so many incidents.”
Both factory Ducati riders will start the Mugello weekend eighth and ninth in the world championship standings, hoping to boost their title bids in front of the passionate Italian crowd.
