Alex Marquez Ahead of MotoGP Comeback in Brno: What the Return Depends On

• Gresini Racing confirmed on June 16 that Alex Marquez will travel to Brno.
• Final clearance will only be given after the medical check by MotoGP doctor Dr. Angel Charte on Thursday.
• Marquez missed the Grands Prix at Mugello and Balaton Park following his Barcelona crash.

One month after one of the most severe accidents of the current season, Alex Marquez is on the verge of returning to the premier class. His team Gresini Racing announced on Tuesday that the Spaniard will travel to Brno for the Czech Grand Prix to compete at the race weekend. However, his participation has not been definitively confirmed, as he must pass the official track-side medical check before the first practice session.

When is Alex Marquez’s MotoGP comeback planned?

Alex Marquez aims to be back on his Ducati this weekend in Brno, subject to medical clearance. The final decision will be made on Thursday when MotoGP doctor Dr. Angel Charte examines him at the track. Only after this examination can Marquez be officially declared fit and participate in the first free practice session on Friday morning. If the session goes without complications and the rider feels physically comfortable, there should be nothing standing in the way of full participation in the race weekend. Earlier on Tuesday, his personal physician Dr. Samuel Antuna had already examined him in Spain and cleared him to travel.

In its statement, Gresini Racing wrote: “After the latest medical checks in Spain, Alex Márquez will fly to Czech Republic this weekend with the aim of being declared FIT.”

What injuries did Alex Marquez sustain in Barcelona?

Marquez suffered a fracture of the right collarbone and an edge fracture of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) in his crash. The collarbone was surgically repaired on the same Sunday and stabilized with a plate. The neck injury did not require surgery but was the central focus of his rehabilitation program in the weeks that followed. During this phase, the 30-year-old was reportedly seen wearing a neck brace at times. The fact that Brno is considered a fast and physically demanding circuit makes this early comeback a particular test of endurance.

How did the crash with Pedro Acosta happen?

The crash was triggered by a technical failure on Pedro Acosta’s KTM, whose machine lost drive and slowed abruptly as a result. The incident occurred on May 17 during the Catalan Grand Prix at mid-race distance. Because both riders were in full acceleration coming out of the corner, the sudden loss of speed from the KTM was equivalent to hard braking. Marquez, who had won the sprint race earlier and was running second behind Acosta in the main race, could not avoid the collision in time and hit his compatriot’s machine at high speed. Rider and motorcycle were hurled through the air and across the ground in the run-off area of Turn 10, and the race was red-flagged. As the description of the accident indicates, he did not hit the track barriers in the process.

Who replaced Alex Marquez at Mugello and Balaton Park?

During the injury absence, two riders stood in for the Gresini pilot. At the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, Ducati test rider Michele Pirro took over, while Superbike rider Iker Lecuona stepped in for the round at Balaton Park in Hungary. Lecuona finished the Grand Prix on Sunday in seventh place. Should Marquez unexpectedly fail the medical check, Gresini has not yet named a replacement rider. The personnel situation affects several teams at this stage, as Johann Zarco is also sidelined with injuries sustained during the Barcelona weekend and is being replaced at LCR-Honda by Cal Crutchlow.

2026 season: From Spanish victory to midfield

The current season has proven considerably more difficult for Marquez compared to his strong previous year. In 2025, he finished the championship as vice world champion and was regularly on the podium, frequently in second place. In 2026, his biggest result so far came at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he also secured Ducati’s first win of the season. Already in 2025, he had celebrated his very first MotoGP victory at the same circuit. However, that triumph has remained his only podium result this season, with a sixth place in Brazil standing as his next best finish. In the riders’ championship, Marquez currently sits ninth with 67 points, 113 points behind the championship leader. His comeback thus falls during a phase of the 2026 MotoGP season marked by injuries to several top riders, which could temporarily shift the balance of power in the championship standings.

➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: 2026 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Championship Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.

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