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Marc Marquez claims he is fine despite ongoing shoulder issues, but Dani Pedrosa warns him not to overlook his past injuries as he competes for the MotoGP championship.
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Dani Pedrosa has advised Marc Marquez that he canât simply forget about his past injuries as he tries to hold on to the MotoGP world championship.
Both Marquez and Ducati have admitted that he hasnât been fully fit at the start of the 2026 season, still dealing with the effects of the shoulder injury that cut his 2025 campaign short by four rounds.
Pedrosa, who retired from racing in 2018, is familiar with what itâs like for a rider to struggle with physical issues. He had numerous injuries over his career and never managed to win a premier class title despite being one of the most naturally talented riders around.
Ducati are standing behind their rider despite his slow start and ongoing fitness concerns.
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Speaking to AS, Pedrosa discussed how every rider eventually reaches a stage where they stop taking the same risks as before.
Marquezâs emphatic championship triumph last year completed one of the sportâs great comebacks after his 2020 arm injury, which ultimately required four surgeries.
But Pedrosa believes that the mental effects of that injury are still present and now worsened by ongoing shoulder issues. At 33, riding without caution becomes much more difficult, and Marquez is showing signs of wear and tear from his career.
âRossi did it back in the day too, but eventually, when you reach a certain age, your efficiency on the track starts to decline, and the risks the younger riders take are much higher than yours. Then, everything reaches a point where itâs no longer possible.
Marc Marquez is still affected by a shoulder injury that cut his 2025 season short by four rounds.
Dani Pedrosa advised Marc Marquez that he cannot simply forget about his past injuries while competing for the championship.
Dani Pedrosa, who retired in 2018, understands the struggles of racing with injuries, having faced numerous physical challenges himself.
Marc Marquez's shoulder injury caused him to miss four rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season, affecting his performance.

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âI donât know if thatâs now or if it will be some time from now, but I think the most decisive factor for Marc in this regard will be his physical condition.
âThere are things that, even if you try not to see them or think about them, get ingrained in your subconscious. And thereâs something you canât completely erase or get rid of.
âThen you get back on the bike and little by little you increase your speed, you try more, you regain your confidence, and you convince yourself again that everything is fine.
âBut, for example, in my case, or with some injuries I had, or Marc with the ones he had in his arm, there are lingering effects that make you think: âMy arm is crooked, my ankle isnât straightâŠâ
âIn the end, those things get ingrained somehow and you canât get rid of them. So, as you get older, it all adds up, and it gets harder and harder to shake it off.â
Marquez has been spotted favouring his shoulder in the garage, but he hasnât provided much detail about the pain heâs dealing with.
Pedrosa said even Marquez probably isnât sure how long his recovery will take. He also suggested that Marquez would want to control the narrative around his situation. Marquez is careful not to give his rivals any mental edge by showing weakness.
âI mean, itâs very logical!â Pedrosa said of his approach. âFirst, because of your own uncertainty. Right now, youâre in a situation where you donât know if your injury is improving or if itâs in a process where you donât know if it will improve further or not. So, you yourself donât know where itâs headed.
âThen thereâs the other possibility: you try not to talk about whatâs happening to you so much, because youâll be answering the same question all day long, and that really overwhelms your brain.
âIn the end, it seems like everything revolves around just that, and you canât focus on anything else or on the competition. So, to avoid that being the focus, you try not to talk about it or think about it all day.
âAnd the third reason would be that if youâre not feeling well or not 100%, then donât give too many clues.â
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