“Being on the grid on Sunday is already a victory for Márquez”

As soon as the first free practice session was over in Portimao , Hernández assumed the role that by gallons would fall to Alberto Puig , the HRC team manager, absent in Portugal for health reasons.

As is logical, the coach from Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Barcelona) celebrated the return of Márquez more than anyone else, even though at the same time he relativized the result reflected in the time tables: after nine months off due to injury in the right humerus, the one from Cervera (Lleida) was awarded the third fastest time and was only two tenths behind the fastest, Maverick Viñales .

“It is logical that Marc is talked about after how he finished in the first training session. But the track conditions were not the best. The best thing was his smile. What he had to do was get on the bike and ride around. Now we have to work little by little for his recovery, and we have to enjoy it”, summarized Hernández , who pointed out the braking points as the aspect that caused the multi-champion the most problems.

“Obviously we have already seen in the past that he adapts very well and quickly to the conditions in front of him. The most important thing is that on Sunday he starts the race, we haven’t set any goals”, continued the Spaniard.

“References when braking is the most difficult factor to adapt to. But the most important thing is that on Sunday we will go out to the race, and after so long that is already a victory”, added the Catalan, who during the time in which Márquez was away from the circuits worked together with Stefan Bradl , the usual pilot Honda testing.

“Marc came out with the base of Stefan’s bike, because it made the most sense as we know it works well. From there we will adapt it to your driving style”, settled Hernández.