Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez expects to be back to full fitness for the second MotoGP round at Austin but will race this weekend at Qatar.

The Repsol Honda wunderkind broke his leg in a dirt-track crash which meant he missed out on the second Sepang test and the Phillip Island outing, so starts his title defence at a disadvantage.

“Obviously it was very disappointing for me to miss the two tests but the good news is that I’m getting better and the bone is mending. I’ve been exercising more, so I’ll have to see how I am in Qatar - I don’t expect to be 100%, but I will try my hardest,” said Marquez.

“The important thing is to take some valuable points and then get up to 100% by round two in Austin. Arriving in Qatar as World Champion is something new to me - to defend the Title - and I know that from the first session the eyes of the World will be on us. Taking my first podium here last year was special and I have good memories.”