The Price of Show: 20 Injuries and 14 Surgeries in Just 12 MotoGP Races

MotoGP 2026 is unfolding with remarkable intensity. Yet behind the spectacle on track, there is a price to pay for the riders. By mid-season, nearly half of them have already undergone surgery. It's a situation that raises a big question: how far can this sport push adrenaline without sacrificing safety?

Data compiled shows that in the first 12 grand prix, there have been 20 injuries affecting the main riders. Of those, 14 ended up on the operating table. These figures do not include Raul Fernandez's absence due to appendicitis, which is clearly unrelated to track incidents.

Looking at the current championship standings, only Ai Ogura and Luca Marini have managed to get through half the season without any significant injury. The rest? They have had to battle pain, surgery, and tight recovery windows. This is not just about fitness, but also about psychology: every corner could be a turning point in fortune.

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Jorge Martin, for instance, had to undergo two operations on his hand and collarbone in December, which kept him out for four weeks and forced him to miss the Malaysia test. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez also had two operations on his hand and shoulder in May, forcing him to miss the French GP and the Catalunya weekend. Two big names, two similar stories: their bodies are battlefields.

Interestingly, this trend was predicted long ago. In September 2023, we commented on Jorge Viegas's slogan—"more starts, more spectacle"—after the introduction of sprint races. In reality, that slogan never took into account the risks faced by riders. Now, almost three years later, those concerns have become reality: injuries are more frequent and are heavily influencing the title fight.

With the season still long, including a grueling triple-header and double-header stretch, riders will need to dig even deeper. There is no solid riders' association yet to fight for their rights. Until that happens, they will keep paying a high price for our entertainment.