Marc Marquez Takes Cautious Approach for Mugello Return

Marc Marquez has confirmed he will approach his MotoGP comeback cautiously at Mugello after missing the Catalunya round due to a foot injury and radial nerve surgery. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider stated that his primary objective this weekend will not be immediate results, but rather evaluating his physical condition and overall feeling aboard the Desmosedici GP.

Marquez fractured his foot during the Le Mans Sprint race and subsequently skipped the Catalunya Grand Prix to accelerate his recovery process. The injury also prompted the reigning world champion to bring forward a previously undisclosed shoulder operation designed to relieve a compressed radial nerve in his arm. After returning to normal training over recent days, Marquez is now expected to race at Mugello pending final medical clearance on Thursday.

The situation represents an important challenge for Ducati because Mugello remains one of the manufacturer’s most significant home events of the season. The high-speed Italian circuit is widely regarded as one of the most physically demanding tracks on the MotoGP calendar, particularly due to its heavy braking zones, aggressive direction changes, and intense acceleration loads generated by modern MotoGP aerodynamic packages.

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“The recovery is progressing as planned. Over the last few days I’ve gone back to training normally and I will be on track mainly to test my feelings and physical condition aboard the Desmosedici GP,” Marquez said.

“Both surgeries went well, but we are proceeding with all due caution and with the final medical checks at the track. Mugello is an incredible circuit, but also a very demanding one. The support of the Ducatisti will be an extra motivational boost.”

Marquez’s return also comes during a difficult championship phase for the Ducati factory squad. Following several inconsistent results at the start of the season, both Marquez and team-mate Francesco Bagnaia currently sit only eighth and ninth in the riders’ standings. The situation is increasing pressure on Ducati to regain momentum before the championship reaches its mid-season phase.

Before Marquez completed his Mugello sweep last season, Bagnaia had dominated Ducati’s home race with three consecutive victories since 2022. The Italian rider also arrives at Mugello motivated after securing Ducati Lenovo’s first podium finish of the current campaign in Catalunya despite suffering a heavy wrist and neck impact during the opening-lap incident involving Johann Zarco.

“The Italian GP at Mugello is always a special moment of the season. It’s one of the most beautiful tracks on the calendar and when you go fast here, it gives you something extra,” Bagnaia said.

“We keep working hard with the whole team. The podium in Barcelona felt important for all the crew, especially after such a difficult Sunday with so many incidents.”

For Ducati, Mugello is now about more than simply delivering a strong home result. The event could become a crucial technical and psychological turning point in its championship campaign. With the circuit heavily rewarding braking stability, acceleration performance, and aerodynamic efficiency, Marquez’s competitiveness following injury will provide an important indication of both his physical recovery and the ongoing development direction of the Desmosedici GP during the next phase of the 2026 season.