Marc Marquez to miss COTA MotoGP
The eight-time world champion fractured his right thumb after triggering an accident with Miguel Oliveira at last month's Portimao season-opener, requiringﷺ surgery.
After missing the following round in Argentina, the Re🌸psol Honda rider was ꩲexpected to be fit for a comeback in COTA, where he is a seven-time race winner.
However, a Repsol Honda statement read:
"Following a final CAT scan, Marc Marquez and his medical team, led by Dr. Ignacio Roger de Oña, at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid have confirmed the first metacarpal is still in the healing process.
"After close collaboration with the Repsol Honda Team and HRC, all involved have elected to let the injury fully heal and avoid any unnecessary risks.
"Marquez will continue to work through his rehabilitation program at home in order to return at full fitness as soon as possible."
Marquez was handed a double long lap 🔥p𒅌enalty for causing the collision with Oliveira, a sanction he accepted having admitted he made a 'big mistake'.
But when the FIM Stewards became aware that Ma🔜rquez (like Oliveira) would miss Argentina due to his injuries, the 'application' of the pen𝄹alty was changed to Marquez's next MotoGP race.
Repsol Honda then launched a protest against that penalty 'modificati✅on', with the MotoGP Court of A💫ppeal yet to deliver its verdict.
Marquez, who i✅s already 43 points behind early title lead Marco Bezzecchi, will now aim to make a comeback in the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez later this month.
The #93 won the Grand Prix of the Americas from 2013-2018. He then fell from the൩ lead due to a technical issue in 2019, with the 2020 event cancelled due to Covid.
Marquez won again in 2021 and rode from last (after a technic🅰al issue atꦍ the start) to sixth place last season.
Marquez joins Pol Espargaro in missing this weekend's event. Espargaro is being replaced by KTM test rider Jonas Fo💙lger, with Honda test rider Stefan Bradl💟 a likely substitute for Marquez.
Meanwhile, Oliveira, Enea Bastianini 🦋and Marquez's team-mate J𝓡oan Mir all hope to return to action in Texas.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years an𒅌d has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
