Alex Marquez Explains Decision to Withdraw from Brno MotoGP

Alex Marquez has revealed that his decision to withdraw from the remainder of the Czech MotoGP weekend at Brno was not related to fitness concerns. Instead, the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP rider opted to avoid unnecessary risks as he continues recovering from the serious injuries suffered in Catalunya last month.

Marquez returned to MotoGP action for the first time since sustaining collarbone and neck fractures in a major crash during the Catalan Grand Prix. Despite the lengthy recovery process, the Spaniard delivered an encouraging performance and qualified 14th at Brno.

Shortly after qualifying, however, Marquez confirmed that he would not participate in the Sprint Race or Sunday’s Grand Prix. The decision followed discussions with his team and medical staff, who had advised him to minimise the possibility of another accident.

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"It's not that I stopped because I am unfit; it was just to avoid risk. In racing, it's impossible to reduce the risk to zero percent because incidents can always happen with other riders or through racing situations," Marquez explained.

The Spaniard noted that doctors had cleared him to ride in Brno but specifically advised him to avoid crashes during this stage of his rehabilitation. Having achieved his primary objective for the weekend, he felt there was little benefit in taking further risks.

"I was much faster than I expected. For me, that's job done. Now I will focus on recovering all the muscles over the next few days and arrive at Assen ready to complete a full race weekend," he added.

Marquez also admitted that the main purpose of returning at Brno was not purely physical. The weekend served as an important mental test after the heavy Catalunya accident, helping him answer questions about whether he could still ride freely and confidently.

"After an accident like Barcelona, you always have some doubts in your mind. How will I feel on the bike? Will I be able to ride freely again? This weekend was extremely important for me from a mental point of view, and I feel I achieved that goal," said Marquez.

Although he continues to experience stiffness in his neck and shoulders, Marquez believes his recovery remains on track. His attention now shifts to Assen, where he hopes to return for a complete MotoGP weekend after gaining a significant psychological boost from his Brno comeback.