Gresini MotoGP rider Alex Marquez has suffered fractures to his neck and shoulder following a horrifying incident during the Catalan Grand Prix.
After being initially treated on-site by an ambulance, Marquez was taken to the Hospital General de Catalunya in Barcelona for a full evaluation.
Scans revealed that the Spaniard broke his right clavicle (collarbone), which will be operated on later today. He also suffered a small fracture to the seventh cervical vertebra, which does not require surgical treatment according to the initial diagnosis.
In a post on social media, Gresini provided an update on Marquez’s condition: “Marginal fracture of C7. The 7th cervical vertebra was initially treated non-surgically. further evaluation will be completed next week.
“Right clavicle fracture; it will be stabilised with a plate. He will undergo surgery today by the team at Hospital General de Catalunya.”
Marquez was chasing Pedro Acosta for the lead when the KTM rider suffered a sudden loss of power heading into Turn 10. With little time to react, Marquez slammed straight into the rear of the KTM and was sent uncontrollably off the track. While he managed to avoid the wall, he hit the ground at high speed while his bike was completely shattered.
The 30-year-old was reported as conscious by the medical director, but the race had to be red-flagged as an ambulance was dispatched to the scene.
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photo by: Qian Jun / MB Media via Getty Images
He made a brief visit to the medical centre before being transported to the hospital, where he remains for further treatment.
Marquez’s crash comes just a week after his elder brother Marc broke his foot in a nasty highside at Le Mans.
Another frightening incident followed on Sunday in Barcelona, with Johann Zarco getting tangled up in Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati at Turn 1. Zarco, who was already hit by flying pieces from Marquez’s bike in the first crash, was also taken to the hospital to undergo checks to his left foot.
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