Alex Marquez is considering bringing forward an operation on his injured right collarbone, a move that could rule him out of next week’s Qatar Grand Prix. The Gresini rider is weighing up whether to travel directly from Kuala Lumpur to Madrid to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
Collarbone Complications and Surgery Plans
The procedure would involve removing a metal plate from his right collarbone, which he fractured during a crash in Barcelona. The hardware has caused significant discomfort in recent weeks amid a demanding MotoGP schedule.
Marquez had initially planned the procedure for the conclusion of the season, but noted on Saturday that he is reconsidering the timeline. He stated that he is evaluating the situation with Dr Samuel Antuna because the issue involves more than just the plate, having also developed bursitis in the area.
He explained that he has received injections at every race since returning from his Barcelona accident and has struggled immensely. Marquez noted that the initial operation following the heavy impact in Barcelona was performed very quickly in an effort to return to racing as soon as possible.
With a move to the factory KTM team next season, his main objective is a complete recovery ahead of the final two rounds in Portimao and Valencia. Most importantly, he aims to be fit for the December 1 test in Valencia to debut KTM’s 850cc prototype under the 2027 regulations.
Sprint Crash in Malaysia
During the Malaysian GP, Marquez secured pole position for the sprint and led the first three laps before crashing out of the lead. He explained that a minor error in low-grip and hot conditions proved costly.
He admitted that he did not anticipate the crash in that specific corner, noting that his confidence from the morning pole position might have made him slightly too optimistic. Despite building a lead of nearly one second, he acknowledged that the sprint conditions were extremely challenging.
However, Marquez confirmed that the fall did not worsen his existing collarbone injury.
