Gresini Ducati riders Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer have revealed they will require further surgery this winter to address lingering injuries. Both have shown remarkable resilience this season, battling through pain to remain competitive, but the physical toll is mounting as the championship heads into its crucial phase.
Alex Marquez suffered multiple fractures in a horrifying crash at the Catalan Grand Prix in May, which sidelined him until the Brno round in mid-June. Since his return, the Gresini rider has impressed, securing two sprint podiums and three top-five finishes in the last four grands prix. However, he admitted on Thursday at the San Marino Grand Prix that he still faces limitations in his shoulders. He is scheduled for surgery in December to remove the metalwork, but until then, he will have to 'survive' the remainder of the 2026 season.
“In December I will take out the plate, and everything will be, in theory, fit and ready for next season,” Marquez told the media at Misano. “But here until the end, I will need to survive with the problems that I have. It’s true that it’s not problems that limit my capacities. On Sunday at Aragon I arrived a little bit more on the limit with the muscles and the power. But it’s not a big problem. So, I need to survive, and after the test in Valencia I will take the surgery.”
Marquez added that the Misano/Red Bull Ring double-header will be the next test for his physical fitness. “This will be my first test to have back-to-back races, here and in Austria,” he said. “[These are] circuits with a lot of braking points that will be tough for my shoulders. So, after here we will see better my reality, or how I can approach the end of the season. But in the end, it’s something that I need to survive. Also, I think in a month and a half, it will be a little bit better, and my body will adapt better to that problem. But it’s not a problem that limits my capacity. It’s a problem that on Sunday I arrive a little bit more tired and a little bit less capacity on the shoulders. So, it’s under control and it’s something I want to try to forget about and win a race between now and the end of the season.”
His teammate Fermin Aldeguer missed the early races of 2026 due to a broken femur, before injuring his back in a crash at the Dutch Grand Prix. The back issues have led to Aldeguer suffering more pain in his leg, which will be improved by surgery in the off-season. “I think this season is impossible [to be 100% fit],” Aldeguer said. “Maybe this winter, after when I do the surgery to take out all of the metal. With this, the doctor said to me that 90% of the pain will go away. I’m waiting. I want to finish this season in a good way, but I also want to be in December to take out all of the metal. It’s the only option. It’s like this.”
With both riders battling physical limitations, Ducati and the Gresini team must carefully manage their performances in the remaining races. Despite their injuries, they remain threats on the grid, and their determination to end the season on a high note is undeniable. The coming races will test their resilience, both mentally and physically, before they can finally focus on full recovery for 2027.
Read Also
Alex Rins decides to retire from MotoGP and switch to car racing in 2027. Read his reasons and career journey here.
Alex Rins announces retirement from motorcycle racing at the end of the year. He turns down WorldSBK offer and hints at a future in car racing.
Alex Rins decides to quit motorcycle racing and switch to car racing in 2027 after losing his seat at Yamaha MotoGP team.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!