Marc Marquez has been deemed medically unfit and will not compete in the Argentina Grand Prix following the Portimao crash.
Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez will miss this weekend’s Argentinean Grand Prix after having surgery on the right hand following an injury he sustained in a crash during the season-opening Portuguese MotoGP.
On the third lap of the Portimao race, the Honda racer clipped Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin as well as RNF Aprilia rider Miguel Oliveira after braking too late on entry to Turn 3.
Oliveira and Martin were spared serious injury, but Marquez had to travel to Spain for more testing after being told that he had fractured a metacarpal in his right hand during a visit to the Algarve International Circuit medical facility.
Marquez later underwent surgery to fix a broken first metacarpal in his right hand at the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid, where he had an emergency thumb surgery.
The procedure, which involved internal fixation of the fracture with two screws and a closed reduction of the fracture, went smoothly.
“After surgery to repair the broken first metacarpal in his right hand, Marc Marquez will miss the second round of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship,” Honda’s statement released on Monday morning read.
“Upon returning to Spain for further checks, Marc Marquez was diagnosed with a displaced intrarticular fracture of the base of the first metacarpal of the thumb of the right hand.”
“The #93 immediately underwent surgery at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid with Dr. Ignacio Roger de Oña leading a team consisting of Dr. Samuel Antuña and Dr. Andrea Garcia Villanueva.”
“The surgery consisted of a closed reduction of the fracture and internal fixation of the same with two screws and passed without incident.”
“Marc Marquez and the Repsol Honda Team have elected for the eight-time World Champion to miss the next round of the World Championship to fully focus on recovery and arrive at the forthcoming rounds in the best possible condition.”
The MotoGP officials assessed Marquez a double long-lap penalty for the incident. However, the penalty cannot be served in a Sprint Race and must be served during the lengthier Sunday event.
The stewards’ wording specifically stated that the punishment was for the Argentinean race, so it won’t carry over should he skip that particular event. He will also avoid having to take the double long-lap penalty he received for his role in the Portuguese crash should he return for the Americas GP.
Marquez started the season skeptical of the Honda’s prospects, claiming he didn’t believe they had a chance to catch up to Pecco Bagnaia and Ducati.
Although he was helpless to thwart Bagnaia’s supremacy as the Italian won both the main race and the sprint, the Spaniard did produce a bit of a shock when he claimed a shock pole.
