[kropotkin thinks...] - Barcelona Superprestigio Returns, Without Baker And Marquez,

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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The Barcelona Superprestigio dirt track event returns for its fifth edition this December 16th. But the indoor short track held in the Palau Sant Jordi in the Olympic Park on the Montjuic hill south of the city center will be without a couple of its big name riders this year, including the originator of the idea, Marc Marquez.

The Spaniard announced a few days ago on his Twitter account that he would not be racing in the event, citing the need for a rest after a long season. Just how much it was his own decision, and how much the result of pressure from Honda, is unknown. HRC were known to be deeply unhappy about Marquez racing in an event which is fraught with the risk of injury, but were unable to stop him. Common sense on the part of Marquez, or perhaps the changing of the guard in the Repsol Honda team - both Shuhei Nakamoto and Livio Suppo, the two men who were instrumental in bringing Marquez to Honda, have now left the employment of HRC - have persuaded him to step back.