Seven-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) underwent surgery on his troublesome left shoulder at the beginning of December, with the Sepang Test providing the first opportunity to see how his recovery has been going since the operation.

The Spaniard has spent the off-season trying to rebuild the strength back up in his shoulder, with his recuperation seemingly going well – but it’s far from the ideal preparation for another title defence for Marquez.

Nevertheless, the number 93 rider will be in Sepang for the three-day test, but the same can’t be said for teammate Jorge Lorenzo. He – like Marquez – underwent surgery at the beginning of September to fix the foot fracture sustained in his Turn 1 crash in Aragon. However, Lorenzo has since fractured his left scaphoid while training, which has put him out of the Sepang Test as he and the team agreed it was best to try and recover as much as possible for the Qatar Test.

For what some are calling MotoGP™’s ‘dream team’, it’s certainly less than a dream start to the 2019 season for Repsol Honda. All eyes will be on Marquez as he jumps aboard the new RC213V for the first time since the operation – how will he fair?

(Story and photos from MotoGP.com)