Marc Marquez Undergoes Surgery, Ducati Fields One Fewer Rider at the Catalunya MotoGP

For the first time this season, Ducati Lenovo Team will have to contest a race without Marc Marquez on track at the 2026 Catalunya MotoGP. The number 93 rider remains in recovery following surgery performed in Madrid on Sunday 10 May. 

Marquez sustained the Injury after crashing during the 2026 French MotoGP sprint race earlier that same month.

Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi confirmed the surgery was successful, though the full recovery process will continue to be monitored very closely.

"The operation went smoothly. We are now coordinating the next recovery stages with the medical team, and we will wait for every step to progress properly," Tardozzi told the official MotoGP website on Friday.

Marquez underwent two procedures: one on his right foot to stabilise a fracture of the fifth metatarsal, and corrective surgery on his right shoulder which had developed recurrent issues.

This shoulder complaint was a longstanding pre-existing injury for Marquez that first reactivated after an incident at the 2025 Indonesian MotoGP.

Surgeons also carried out additional work to remove two displaced screws and residual bone fragments left from Marquez's 2019 Latarjet procedure, which had shifted and were compressing his radial nerve.

Despite this latest setback, Ducati remains confident Marquez will make a full return as he has done before. Tardozzi noted that Marquez's extensive experience navigating difficult injury periods will support him through this rehabilitation phase.

"Marc has faced every possible scenario already, and he is handling this very well. Everyone knows he already underwent multiple surgeries at the start of this season, and now with this latest operation we simply have to wait for the next recovery milestones," Tardozzi added.

This situation is not unfamiliar for Marquez. His professional career has been repeatedly disrupted by serious injuries over recent years.

Yet on every previous occasion he has returned to the circuit, he has reconfirmed his standing as one of the finest riders of the modern MotoGP era.

At this stage Ducati has opted not to rush the seven-time world Champion back to competition.

The Italian factory squad confirmed they will only field Francesco Bagnaia for the 15-17 May 2026 Catalunya MotoGP round.

Ducati also announced they will not appoint a replacement rider for Marquez for this event.

This decision was made due to the extremely short turnaround between race weekends, and to allow Marquez to focus fully on his recovery without unneeded pressure.

Marquez's absence represents a major loss for Ducati. Prior to the crash, he was rated as one of the strongest title contenders for the current MotoGP season.

Full responsibility for maintaining Ducati's form in Catalunya now rests with Bagnaia.

The 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion is expected to uphold the team's consistent performance while Marquez recovers.