Marc Marquez to miss COTA MotoGP
The eight-time world champion fractu🐲red his right thumb after triggering an accident with Miguel Oliveira at last month's Portim🤪ao season-opener, requiring surgery.
After missing the following round i꧋n Argentina, the Repsol Honda rider was expected 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 penalty for causing the collisionꦺ with Oliveira, a sanction he accepted having admitted he made a 'big mistake'.
But when the FIM Stewards became aware that Marquez (like Oliveira) would miss Argentina d𒅌ue to hiඣs injuries, the 'application' of the penalty was changed to Marquez's next MotoGP race.
Repsol Honda then launched a protest against that penalty 'modification', with the MotoGP ♉Court of Appeal yet to deliver its verdi🉐ct.
Marqu𝓀ez, who is already 43 points behind early title lead Marc🅰o 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 the lead due to a technical issue in 2019, with the 2020 event cancelled 𒆙due to Covid.
Marque🍸z won again in 2021 and rode from last (after a&nbs🌺p;technical issue at the start) to sixth place last season.
Marquez joꦦins Pol Espargaro in missing this weekend's event. Espargaro is being replaced by KTM test rider Jonas Folger, with Honda test rider Stefan Bradl a likely substitute for Marquez.
Meanwhile, Oliveira, Enea🌌 Bastianini and Marquez's team-mate Joan Mir all hope to return to action in Texas.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzu🤪ki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
