Márquez says he raced with 'one-and-a-half arms' before Le Mans crash

Marc Marquez’s Le Mans crash did not create the full extent of his current injury problem. The Ducati Lenovo rider said on May 9 that he had already planned shoulder surgery after the Catalunya Grand Prix because his right arm was not functioning properly on the MotoGP bike. Ducati and MotoGP later said Marquez underwent successful surgery in Madrid on May 11 and will miss this weekend’s race in Barcelona, leaving Francesco Bagnaia as Ducati’s only factory rider there. The timing matters because Marquez’s absence comes as the 2026 championship tightened at Le Mans. MotoGP’s official standings page and multiple race reports show Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin by one point after the French Grand Prix. Marquez is seventh in the standings after five rounds. ### What exactly did Marquez say about riding hurt? (motogp.com) Marquez said on May 9 that he had discovered after Jerez that “something wasn’t working well” and that his right arm felt “destroyed” when he rode the MotoGP bike. He said the issue did not show up in the same way at home or while riding motocross, which is why the problem took time to identify. (motogp.com) The Race reported that Marquez told reporters he was effectively racing with “one and a half arms.” In the same account, he said the arm was not doing what he wanted when something touched the nerve, and linked that to inconsistency and crashes. ### Why was surgery already planned before Le Mans? The right shoulder problem dated back to Marquez’s crash with Marco Bezzecchi at Mandalika last season, according to Marquez’s comments reported by MotoGP and The Race. (the-race.com) He said doctors later found damage involving screws from earlier surgical work, and that one screw was affecting the radial nerve when he was in riding position on the MotoGP machine. MotoGP reported on May 9 that Marquez had already been scheduled to undergo another operation after the Catalunya round. The Le Mans sprint crash changed the sequence because he also fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, bringing the shoulder procedure forward. ### What happened after the Le Mans crash? (the-race.com) Le Mans became a double setback for Marquez. MotoGP said on May 9 that he was declared unfit for Sunday’s French Grand Prix after the sprint crash and would also miss Barcelona. Ducati later said he underwent a “successful double surgery” on his right foot and right shoulder in Madrid on May 11. (motogp.com) Ducati said on May 12 that Marquez would not be replaced at the Catalunya Grand Prix because of the short turnaround from Le Mans to Barcelona. That leaves Bagnaia as the only rider in factory Ducati colors this weekend. ### How much does this change Ducati’s weekend in Barcelona? Barcelona will go ahead without the reigning champion in the factory garage. (motogp.com) Ducati’s statement did not give a return date, saying only that the team awaited further news on when Marquez would be back in action. Marquez himself said on May 9 that Catalunya was definitely out and that the next decision would come “step by step” for Mugello. (motogp.com) That places the focus on his recovery timeline rather than an immediate return this weekend. ### Where does the title fight stand without him? Aprilia left Le Mans with control of the top of the riders’ standings. (motogp.com) Official MotoGP standings and post-race reports show Bezzecchi on 128 points and Martin on 127 after Martin’s win in France. Fabio Di Giannantonio is third on 84, while Marquez is seventh on 57. The next round is the Catalunya Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 15-17. (the-race.com) MotoGP and Ducati have already confirmed Marquez will not take part, and Bagnaia will line up as the sole Ducati Lenovo rider while Bezzecchi and Martin resume their one-point fight. (motogp.com 1) (motogp.com 2)