Marc Marquez will miss the 2026 Catalan MotoGP after Ducati confirmed it will not field a replacement rider in Barcelona. The decision follows surgery on the reigning world champion’s right foot and shoulder after a heavy crash during last weekend’s French Grand Prix sprint race.
The Spanish rider fractured his right foot in the Le Mans sprint incident, which immediately ruled him out of Sunday’s grand prix. Marquez then decided to bring forward additional surgery on the shoulder injury he had been managing since October, after persistent nerve discomfort linked to damaged metalwork in his right arm. Ducati later confirmed both procedures were completed successfully, although no precise recovery timeline has yet been announced.
Marquez’s absence represents a significant setback for Ducati’s factory programme as he remains one of the key performance references for the Desmosedici GP26 this season. Beyond the loss of points potential, Ducati will also miss critical race-weekend data at Barcelona-Catalunya, a circuit known for aggressive braking zones and rapidly changing grip conditions. That situation places increased technical responsibility on Francesco Bagnaia, who will serve as the team’s sole factory representative this weekend.
In its official statement, Ducati confirmed it would not appoint a stand-in rider for the Catalan round. MotoGP regulations do not obligate teams to replace a rider during the first event of an absence period, allowing Ducati to maintain focus on its longer-term development priorities rather than introducing a temporary replacement.
Michele Pirro, traditionally Ducati’s primary substitute option, is currently dedicated to the manufacturer’s 850cc prototype development programme for the 2027 regulations. Ducati reportedly sees limited technical value in diverting Pirro to a full race weekend in Barcelona. Meanwhile, WorldSBK contender Nicolo Bulega is unavailable due to his commitments in the Czech Republic this weekend.
Ducati Lenovo Team manager Davide Tardozzi stressed that Marquez’s physical recovery remains the priority before any return to championship competition.
“Marc will not participate in next week's Catalan GP. The whole Ducati Lenovo Team sends him their best wishes. We couldn't agree more on this: his health remains the priority,” said Tardozzi.
Although Ducati has not confirmed a return date, the team hopes Marquez could be fit for the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello later this month. His absence in Barcelona increases pressure on Bagnaia in the championship fight, particularly as rivals from Aprilia Racing and KTM continue to close the performance gap across recent rounds.
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