Marc Marquez’s shoulder injury “serious” as MotoGP doctor shares recovery update

MotoGP’s official doctor Angel Charte has highlighted how serious Marc Marquez’s season-ending injury is, saying the world champion made the right decision to focus on his recovery.

Marquez had to undergo a surgery on his right shoulder after being hit by Aprilia rival Marco Bezzecchi on the opening lap of the Mandalika race last month.

While the operation was successful, Marquez was required to “spend four weeks with the arm completely immobilised before beginning rehabilitation”, ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign - including the post-season test at Valencia.

In his first update on Marquez’s condition in several weeks, Charte explained that the Ducati rider needed extra time to recover, noting that his shoulder had already been “badly affected” by the Jerez 2020 crash that nearly ended his career.

“Marquez has done what he had to do, and his injury is not an easy one,” Dr Charte told Spanish newspaper AS. 

“It's a serious injury because that arm has been badly affected after four operations. I think he has to come back when he's 100%, as he himself has said. You have to let the body regenerate." 

Charte, however, clarified that the humerus of his right arm, which was damaged in his Jerez crash, has not been impacted by the incident in Indonesia.

"The previous injury hasn't been affected at all,” he explained. “They only saw that there was a bent screw in the humerus and that was repaired as well. And the coracoid has its history. It may seem like nothing, but it's an important bone.

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Robertus Pudyanto / Getty Images

"It's not that it's more or less serious, but rather that the recovery has to be done more calmly. The stance he has taken is the right one and is what I would have taken."

Marquez will be unable to ride a MotoGP bike until the start of pre-season testing in February 2026, but Charte cautioned that an early return could have “jeopardised" his career.

”Emotionally, he's doing great because he's done his homework,” said Charte. “He'll come to Valencia as a tourist and he's earned this break because he's a guy who's had an exceptional season. 

“In his case, coming back earlier would have been risking it for nothing, and that's not worth it. He would have jeopardised his career by returning prematurely.”