Following a harrowing high-speed incident at the Catalan Grand Prix, it has been confirmed that Alex Marquez has sustained a fracture in his L7 vertebra. Meanwhile, Johann Zarco also faced serious injuries during a later crash, where he became trapped under his motorcycle as it flipped, although he described his neck brace as “a nuisance.”
The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for May 31 at the renowned Mugello circuit.
Both Marquez and Zarco will remain hospitalized after their separate accidents necessitated two red flags during Sunday’s race. Gresini Racing’s Alex Marquez was unable to avoid a collision when Pedro Acosta’s bike unexpectedly lost power, resulting in Marquez crashing into the rear of Acosta’s KTM. This led to Marquez losing control and tumbling into a wall before rolling through the gravel.
He was promptly transported to a medical facility, where examinations revealed a minor fracture in his C7 vertebra at the base of his neck, as well as a broken right collarbone. He is scheduled for surgery later that day.
“Everything is under control. I’m set to go into surgery tonight, and I am in excellent hands,” Marquez shared on social media. “I appreciate all the support and kind messages I’ve received.”
Once the race resumed, LCR Honda’s Zarco encountered trouble when he braked late on the first turn, resulting in a multi-rider collision involving Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and Honda’s Luca Marini. Both Bagnaia and Marini quickly signaled for assistance after Zarco fell onto the gravel with his leg entangled in Bagnaia’s bike.
“Don’t worry, we’re still waiting on test results. I’m wearing a neck brace, but it’s more of an inconvenience,” Zarco mentioned on Instagram. “The main issue is my knee; the ligaments are torn, but the femur is intact. I have a minor fracture in the fibula near my left ankle. I will keep you updated, and I’m in the hospital tonight for observation.”
Zarco’s team reported that the 35-year-old has suffered injuries to both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial meniscus, along with a small tear in the fibula.
Marc Marquez, the reigning world champion and brother of Alex, did not compete on Sunday as he is recovering from shoulder surgery. He expressed his gratitude with a simple message on his Instagram story: “Today I only give thanks.”
In the midst of the chaos, Fabio Di Giannantonio triumphed in the race, despite his racing suit showing signs of damage after he fell due to debris from Marquez’s crash. The Italian managed to continue racing after a tire struck his arm, allowing him to return to the pits for the restart.
This victory marked Di Giannantonio’s second in MotoGP, as well as VR46 Racing’s first since the Indian Grand Prix in 2023, although it was overshadowed by the earlier incidents. “Today has been tough for everyone. I sincerely hope Alex is okay,” said Di Giannantonio. “We are fortunate. While our sport is thrilling, it also carries risks, and I wish everyone safety.”
Honda’s Joan Mir finished in second place, followed by Gresini Racing’s Fermín Aldeguer. Pole sitter Acosta crashed on the final lap after contact with Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura, who received a three-second penalty for the incident. However, Mir was later investigated for low tire pressures and received a 16-second penalty, ultimately allowing Ducati’s Bagnaia to claim third place, marking his first podium finish of the season.
