Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez’s 2020 season has got off to the worst possible start, with the Honda rider suffering a broken right humerus after crashing out of today’s Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
Marquez had been putting on one of the finest comeback races of his career up until his crash, which came after he’d run off the track in the early stages of the race and dropped from the lead to outside of the points.
Making a huge trademark save, he rode through the pack to return to the battle for the podium in the closing stages of the race.
However, a second incident led to a high-speed highside crash at a fast left-hander, Marquez tumbling through the gravel and looking uncharacteristically hurt afterwards.
Team boss Alberto Puig reported initially that Marquez had sustained a broken arm, and the diagnosis has since been firmed up.
Marquez is scheduled to undergo surgery for the injury on Tuesday in Barcelona, but potentially faces a lengthy road back to recovery thanks to the complications of healing the upper-arm bone. The humerus is located near many nerves in the arm, and it can be a tricky injury to heal, with the potential to affect the remainder of Marquez’s season.
Delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, MotoGP’s 2020 season will continue at the same Jerez circuit next weekend, with 12 more races squeezed in between now and November.
That leaves little time for recovery from normal wear and tear, let alone a major injury, and could be a devastating blow to Marquez’s aspirations of a ninth world title and a seventh MotoGP crown.
Petronas Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo leads the title race after taking his maiden win at Jerez.
