Marc Márquez: “Returning now is not the priority”
/ @esport3
Marc Márquez will miss the French Grand Prix and his home race, the upcoming Catalan Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, following a heavy crash during the sprint race. Medical tests confirmed a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, requiring surgery in the coming days. The rider also revealed that a previously scheduled operation on his shoulder would now be combined with the foot procedure.
The Ducati rider started from second on the grid after an impressive qualifying session, which included a lap record after progressing through Q1. At the start, Márquez was overtaken by several riders and forced to fight back, but the situation became more difficult as the laps progressed. He was passed by Pedro Acosta and Fabio Quartararo, and stayed close behind them, waiting for an opportunity to attack for fifth place.
That was when the major incident occurred. Just before the final lap, the Spaniard lost the front end of his bike and suffered a high-side crash reminiscent of his Honda days, silencing the circuit. Márquez was thrown into the air at Turn 14 and slid several meters while his bike cartwheeled dangerously nearby.
Although he got up under his own power, he had no chance to continue and was transported to his garage on one of the circuit’s scooters. Upon arrival, he needed support from Dr. Ángel Charte and a trusted aide, visibly limping and in pain from his right foot.
After the accident, Márquez was examined by the doctor and soon visited the medical center, from which he emerged limping. While no official statement was released at the time, the expressions of Dr. Charte and team members hinted at a grim prognosis.
Surgery and Goodbye to the Catalan GP
Following the necessary medical checks, the worst fears were confirmed. “After the crash during the sprint in the French GP and following a medical examination and X-ray, Marc was declared unfit to race due to a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot,” the team announced in a statement.
Shortly after, the rider himself confirmed the news and added another. “It was one of the reasons I was riding cautiously; I knew a fall could happen at any moment, and this time it resulted in breaking my fifth metatarsal. I hadn’t told you, but I had a planned surgery after the Catalan GP for my right shoulder, because this season I’ve been having more problems than usual,” said the Cervera native.
Marc Márquez, in Jerez
/ GIGI SOLDANO / DPPI Media / AFP7 / Europa Press
“I tried to convince myself, but after Jerez I saw something wasn’t working. We went to the doctors and they saw that after the crash in Indonesia everything was fine, but the famous screw in my shoulder is in a different position,” he explained regarding the other surgery he will undergo.
“I had a strange feeling because at home I was fine, but then I came here and it went badly. I thought I was mentally blocked. But they saw that in the MotoGP position, that screw is in a different place and it touches the radial nerve, causing me to make mistakes and not be consistent,” he continued, confirming that they would take advantage of the surgery and “do it all at once.” “I have to recover well and from there continue with the plan of building my future,” he said resignedly to DAZN.
Regarding recovery timelines, he noted that “for the shoulder, although it might seem long, it’s simply opening up and removing the screw, so it won’t be extensive. The foot fracture is the main issue.”
