2018 MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez revealed he felt ‘a small crack’ in his left shoulder during his qualifying crash today in the final qualifying session of 2018 in Valencia.

The World Champion went into qualifying in red hot form and firm favourite for pole, however on his first flying lap, the Spaniard lost the front end of his factory RC213V.

Marquez was left tumbling through the gravel and immediately felt for his left shoulder. The left shoulder was the one that Marquez has had problems with surrounding dislocations and despite being in obvious pain, a dash back to the pits and a quick medical check didn’t stop him from re-joining the qualifying session just six minutes after the crash had happened.

“I knew since Motegi the shoulder is not so good,” said the 25-year-old, who had his shoulder dislocated last month by Scott Redding during title celebrations.

“Even last week I had a few troubles with it and I’m not 100%. But today I was unlucky because I was not pushing; just maybe the tyre wasn’t up to the correct temperature. I lost the front and then when I arrived in the gravel I felt something strange in the shoulder.

“It was different to Japan because then I needed help from my mate, but today, I felt something strange, but then I tried to move and felt a small ‘crack’, but that was it.

“The doctor arrived and we did a check, because it’s the most important in this case. It was okay, I was ready to ride, but it was painful because already for several weeks the injury is there.”

Marquez admitted that he has been in some discomfort since his shoulder was put out in Motegi, and he has been fighting through the pain since.

“Since Motegi, the problem didn’t stop,” he said.

“I rode in Phillip Island and in Malaysia but the injury is always there and it’s something you can only fix with surgery.

“Then last week training a little bit, I felt some strange movement and again the pain. It was not complete but it was a very strange movement and then it’s like an injury that is always there.

“You need to stop. So I will stop in December, but now I can’t.

“But I feel like riding the bike is okay. Always some pain, but I feel safe. It’s lucky we are at the last race and we have only a few tests, Valencia and Jerez, before surgery in December.”

With regards to tomorrows race, heavy rain is forecast and Marquez was strong in the rain on Friday. When asked about his chances tomorrow, Marquez said: “If it’s dry or wet I feel ready to fight for the podium. Then we will see. I will try to finish the race in the best position.”