The Repsol Honda Team has confirmed that Marc Marquez will miss this weekend’s MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix as he continues to recover from the thumb injury he sustained at the first race of the season in Portugal.
The latest decision to postpone Marquez’ return to MotoGP has come after CT scan on Tuesday 25 April showed the first metacarpal which Marquez broke in Portimao has not yet finished healing.
Marquez has been out of action in MotoGP since his crash in the 2023 Portuguese Grand Prix one month ago, missing the Argentinian and Americas Grands Prix which have taken place since the Portimao season opener.
Marquez will now target the French Grand Prix in Le Mans to make his 2023 MotoGP return, two weeks after this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Marc Marquez said: “Yesterday we did another CT scan and it has been confirmed that, despite the fact that the injury is progressing favourably, the bone has not yet finished healing and racing in Jerez was risky. Together with the medical team, we decided not to take any risks, to wait two more weeks and return in Le Mans.
“I am very sorry to miss the Spanish Grand Prix because it is always special, because of the atmosphere, racing at home and above all, seeing and enjoying the fans. I will continue with the rehabilitation and work to be back as soon as possible.”
Although he was replaced by Honda MotoGP test rider Stefan Bradl in Austin, Marquez will be replaced in Spain by his compatriot, HRC WorldSBK rider Iker Lecuona.
Lecuona retired from both long races at last weekend’s Dutch WorldSBK, and finished 11th in the Superpole Race. He last raced in MotoGP at the 2021 Valencian Grand Prix with the Tech3 KTM team, and will be back in WorldSBK action the week after his Honda MotoGP debut at the Catalan round of WorldSBK at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
