MotoGPCompetition·MotoGP rider Alex MarquezPlayer·Alex Marquez will be absent from the next two rounds of the championship, his Gresini DucatiTeam·Gresini Ducati team confirmed today. The Spanish rider sustained a fractured right collarbone and a small fracture to his seventh cervical vertebra (C7) during a high-speed incident at the Catalonia Grand Prix on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
The incident occurred during the main race in Catalonia when Marquez collided with the rear of Pedro AcostaPlayer·Pedro Acosta's motorcycle, which had unexpectedly lost power. The impact was severe, causing Marquez's motorcycle to disintegrate upon hitting the wall, and the rider himself endured multiple tumbles. He was conscious following the crash and was promptly transported to a local hospital for comprehensive medical evaluation. His fractured collarbone was successfully stabilized with surgery on Sunday evening.
As a direct consequence of these injuries, Alex MarquezPlayer·Alex Marquez will not participate in the Grand Prix of ItalyCompetition·Grand Prix of Italy at MugelloVenue·Mugello on May 31, nor the Grand Prix of HungaryCompetition·Grand Prix of Hungary at Balaton ParkVenue·Balaton Park on June 7. The Gresini DucatiTeam·Gresini Ducati team has confirmed that while a replacement rider will not be required for the MugelloVenue·Mugello event, they will need to field one for the Balaton ParkVenue·Balaton Park race. Niccolò BulegaPlayer·Niccolò Bulega is considered a likely candidate for the Hungarian Grand Prix, as he will not have commitments in the World Superbike ChampionshipCompetition·World Superbike Championship (WSBK) with the factory DucatiTeam·Ducati team during that specific weekend.
Prior to this unfortunate incident, Alex MarquezPlayer·Alex Marquez had demonstrated strong form, notably securing a victory in the sprint race at the Catalonia Grand Prix on May 16, 2026. In the main race, he was positioned second behind Pedro AcostaPlayer·Pedro Acosta on the twelfth lap before the crash. Despite some reported struggles with his DucatiTeam·Ducati GP26 motorcycle this season, Marquez currently holds fifth place in the rider standings with 67 points.
His performance in the 2025 season was particularly strong, where he achieved two Grand Prix victories, seven additional podium finishes in Sunday races, and one sprint win, ultimately placing him second in the world championship behind his brother, Marc MarquezPlayer·Marc Marquez. This success earned him the factory GP26 motorcycle for the current 2026 season. The championship standings currently see Marco BezzecchiPlayer·Marco Bezzecchi leading, followed by Jorge MartinPlayer·Jorge Martin, with Fabio Di GiannantonioPlayer·Fabio Di Giannantonio, who won the Catalonia race, in third position.
Alex Marquez (73) and Pedro Acosta (37) race at the MotoGP Catalonia Grand Prix. Photo: ZUMA Press Wire/IMAGO
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