To everyone's surprise, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was back in the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto paddock on Thursday with the intention of participating in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, despite being the victim of a huge highside last Sunday that resulted in a fractured right humerus. Better yet, the Catalan, who had a plate fitted during surgery in Barcelona just three days ago now, received the green light from doctors on Thursday. In order not to strain his arm too much, the eight-time World Champion decided not to participate in any track activity on Friday ahead of riding on Saturday.
In the meantime, Alpinestars - protector of the World Champion - has provided us with all of the data from his vicious crash. On the graph, we learn that the World Champion was airborne for a full second as a result of whipped skywards by his Honda RC213V, with his airbag deployed just before he hits the ground. The Spanish rider suffered an initial impact with the tarmac at well over 20G before then sliding into the gravel trap.
It was at this precise moment that the impact between his bike and his right arm occurred. A blow estimated at 25.98G, the maximum impact he felt throughout the crash, occurred when the front wheel of his Repsol Honda punted him further through the gravel. It is certain that without Alpinestars protection throughout the crash, Marquez's injury would have been worse and we would not see him on track tomorrow morning. Contact with his bike sent him tumbling through the gravel for a further 3.55 seconds with the total crash lasting a painful 5.3 seconds.