Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco will remain in hospital after the two Moto GP riders sustained fractures in separate crashes that forced the Catalan Grand Prix to be red-flagged twice.
Marquez could not react in time when Pedro Acosta’s bike lost power and he slammed into the back of the KTM, before he careered towards the wall and then cartwheeled through the air as he lost control on the gravel on Sunday (local time).
Marquez was immediately rushed to the hospital where scans confirmed he had a marginal fracture on the vertebra near his neck as well as a fracture on his right collarbone, with the Spaniard set to undergo surgery later on Sunday.
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“Everything’s under control. I’m due to go into the operating theatre tonight, but I couldn’t be in better hands,” Marquez said on X.
“Thank you all so much for your concern and for the kind messages I’ve been receiving.”
Spanish MotoGP rider Alex Marquez is assisted by paramedics after a crash at the Catalan Grand Prix. Credit: AAP
After the race restarted, LCR Honda’s Zarco was involved in a crash when he braked late on turn one of the first lap as he took out Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and Honda’s Luca Marini in a three-rider pile-up.
Both Bagnaia and Marini immediately signalled for help from the track marshals after Zarco tumbled across the gravel with his leg caught on Bagnaia’s bike.
“Don’t worry, we’re still waiting for the test results. I’ve got a neck brace on, but it’s more of a nuisance than anything else,” Zarco said on Instagram.
“It’s mainly the knee, the ligaments have snapped. But the femur isn’t broken. There’s a small fracture at the bottom of the fibula, on the outside of my left ankle.
“So there you go, I’ll keep you posted. Just to put your minds at rest, really. More of a scare than anything… I’m staying in hospital tonight because they want to keep an eye on me.”
Johann Zarco goes down after a horror crash. Credit: X
Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio eventually claimed victory in the dramatic race.
It was only his second MotoGP victory and VR46 Racing’s first since the Indian Grand Prix in 2023.
Honda’s Joan Mir finished second ahead of Gresini Racing’s Fermin Aldeguer while pole sitter Acosta crashed on the final lap after contact from Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura, who was handed a three-second penalty.
Australian Jack Miller, on his Pramac Yamaha, finished 14th.
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