BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP rider Alex Marquez will miss the upcoming Italian and Hungarian GP after the team officially confirmed the Spaniard’s absence following his terrifying crash at the Catalan Grand Prix.
The incident occurred during last Sunday’s MotoGP race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya when Pedro Acosta suffered a sudden electrical issue on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine exiting Turn 9.
The KTM unexpectedly lost power along the back straight, leaving Marquez with virtually no time to react. The Gresini Ducati rider slammed into the rear of Acosta’s bike before being launched violently off the circuit in one of the most frightening moments of the 2026 MotoGP season.
Medical teams rushed Marquez to hospital immediately after the crash, where examinations revealed multiple fractures. The younger Marquez brother underwent surgery on Sunday night before being discharged from hospital on Monday.
Following further medical assessments, Gresini Ducati confirmed that the Spaniard will sit out both the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello and the Hungarian Grand Prix at Balaton Park as he continues his recovery process.
The team, however, stopped short of confirming whether Marquez could miss additional rounds beyond the two upcoming races.
The absence of the Spanish star now leaves Gresini Ducati facing a crucial decision regarding a replacement rider.
One likely candidate is Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, who previously deputised earlier this season when rookie sensation Fermin Aldeguer missed the opening Thai Grand Prix due to injury.
However, Ducati’s plans could also depend heavily on the fitness of reigning world champion Marc Marquez, who himself remains sidelined with a foot fracture and shoulder complications sustained earlier this year.
Ducati opted not to field a replacement during Marc Marquez’s absence at the Catalan GP, but MotoGP regulations would require the Italian manufacturer to nominate a substitute rider for Mugello.
Another possible option is Nicolo Bulega, although the Italian is expected to be unavailable for Mugello due to a scheduling clash with the World Superbike Championship round at Aragon.
Even then, Ducati may hesitate to risk disrupting Bulega’s sensational WorldSBK campaign, with the Italian currently unbeaten in 2026 and firmly on course for a maiden world title.
An intriguing wildcard possibility could see former Ducati MotoGP rider Andrea Iannone make a shock return to the premier-class paddock.
Iannone is already scheduled to return to the MotoGP environment at Mugello for the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup event and remains familiar with Ducati machinery after his previous MotoGP experience.
For now, though, the primary focus remains on Alex Marquez’s recovery after a devastating accident that once again highlighted the brutal dangers of premier-class motorcycle racing.
His absence is a major blow not only for Gresini Ducati but also for the 2026 MotoGP championship battle, with Marquez having emerged as one of the standout performers of the season prior to the Barcelona crash.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
