- Twitter: MotoGP
VIVA – The Repsol Honda racer, Marc Marquez will miss the Argentina round of MotoGP in early April because he’s having surgery on the thumb, he fractured in the crash in which he clipped Jorge Martin and hit Miguel Oliveira and he will focus on recovery.
Marquez returned to Spain on Sunday following MotoGP’s 2023 season-opening Portuguese Grand Prix to have a suspected fracture of the first metacarpal in his right hand assessed. The assessment confirmed a “displaced intraarticular fracture of the base of the first metacarpal of the thumb of the right hand,” a Repsol Honda press release issued on Monday.
Following the diagnosis, Marquez had surgery on the fractured metacarpal, and as a result will skip this weekend’s upcoming Argentina Grand Prix, the second event of the season for MotoGP.
Pembalap Miguel Oliveira ditandu usai tabrakan dengan Marc Marquez.
- AP Photo
Skipping the race in Argentina will also mean he will not have to serve the Long Lap Penalty imposed by the FIM Stewards for causing the crash.
Marquez caused one of the most controversial moments in Sunday's race when he was one of those involved in the incident that happened at turn three at the Algarve Motorsports Park. As a result, Miguel Oliveira and Jorge Martin both abandoned the race at different times; the Portuguese rider did not return to his bike and only suffered a contusion on his right leg, whilst Martin had to abandon in the second half of the race, assuring Motorcycle Sports yesterday that he had fractured a toe.
On the other hand, Marquez accepted gracefully regarding the penalty decision. He also regrets that a severe accident had to occur in Portugal's opening race.
"I fully accept and respect the double long-lap penalty at the Argentina Grand Prix because I made a mistake," he said.
