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MARQUEZ DOUBLE VISION RETURNS

Marc Marquez double vision returns - Image: Motorsport Images

By Dan McCarthy

Factory Honda rider Marc Marquez has been ruled out of action for an undetermined amount of time following a new episode of diplopia (double vision).

Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez was forced to miss the Indonesian Grand Prix after a spectacular high-side at Turn 7 in Sunday morning warm-up saw him dealt a concussion and several minor traumas.

After the track examination, he was transferred to the hospital in Mataram, the capital of the island of Lombok, where he underwent more medical examinations, as well as a CT scan in which major injuries were ruled out.

But, as a precaution, the MotoGP medical team together with the Repsol Honda Team jointly decided that Marquez would not take part in the Indonesian Grand Prix.

It was expected that Marquez would return for the Argentine Grand Prix, however upon returning to his home country of Spain, he began to suffer from vision issues putting this in doubt.

On Monday, he had an emergency visit to the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona with his trusted ophthalmologist, Dr. Sanchez Dalmau, who confirmed a relapse in the diplopia (double vision) that the rider suffered last November.

The damaged nerve in his eye caused diplopia and ruled him out of the final two races last year, and is a real blow to Marquez’s title hopes.

Last night, the Spanish rider visited his medical team, led by Dr. Samuel Antuna, at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid, where Marquez underwent a general medical check-up to evaluate all the bruises caused by the crash and a brain MRI.

This reconfirmed he did not suffer any other injuries.

Doctor Dalmau confirmed the return of double vision for Marquez, stating that he will undergo another check-up next week.

“The neuro-ophthalmological evaluation carried out on Marc Marquez on Monday after the head injury that occurred at the Indonesian Grand Prix, shows a new episode of diplopia caused by a recurrence of paralysis of the fourth right nerve,” he said.

“With less involvement than the one that occurred in the injury in November 2021.

“After this examination, it was initially decided to follow a conservative treatment with periodic medical tests.

“Next week, Marc Marquez will undergo a new check-up to evaluate the evolution of the injury and to predict the estimated recovery period to return to competition.”

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