Marc Marquez title rival facing operation as MotoGP battle intensifies
Marquez's main title rivals are dealing with injuries (Credit: Apex Agency)
16:45, 17 Sep
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
MotoGP’s injury-hit 2026 season rumbles on for the Austrian Grand Prix, and the title race will again be impacted.
Most of the grid has missed races this season due to injury, including championship rivals Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi.
One man who’s yet to miss a race, but soon could, is Jorge Martin, who went from the lead in Misano last time out to fifth in a rapid and concerning drop-off.
Post-race, the Aprilia rider revealed he was experiencing ‘arm pump’, a common forearm ailment for professional motorbike riders that often requires surgery to alleviate the pain.
With Austria taking place a week later, Martin has put any potential operation on hold for now.
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Martin will make surgery decision after Austria sprint
Speaking to MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring, he explained: “I’m feeling much better, but this weekend will be a test for my arm pump to understand if I will have to undergo surgery on Monday.
“Let’s see, I feel much better than arriving in Misano, so let’s see if we’re able to avoid surgery, as that would be much better. Going into surgery would bring a lot of risk for the rest of the season.
“I will try to make the best decision and try to be competitive here.”
He added: “I think after the sprint I will decide, because that’s when I will see the real condition of the arm.
“I will try to enjoy the weekend. I was happy about my performance in Misano; those 10 or 11 laps [in the lead] I really enjoyed like a kid, and that’s where I want to go, to enjoy racing.
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“I feel like I’m getting more competitive every weekend and Misano was good proof of that.”
Martin heads into the weekend level on points with Marquez but behind him in the championship on countback due to wins.
Martin is happy with his form in spite of his arm issues (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
“I think after the sprint I will decide, because that’s when I will see the real condition of the arm."- Jorge Martin
Ogura cleared for MotoGP return after training accident
Ai Ogura previously sat second and well ahead of Marquez, but a Silverstone crash and subsequent training accident forced him to miss the next two races, dropping him to sixth in the championship.
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The Japanese Trackhouse rider is now ready to go in Austria and has passed a final medical check by MotoGP.
He commented: “I’m good, I think my hand’s condition is quite OK, good enough to ride the bike. I expect nothing special for this weekend, but it’s good to be back.”
Explaining his training accident, he added: “It was just a normal crash, there’s nothing to talk about, I touched the ground in the wrong way and it was a really unlucky situation, it’s like this.”
Bezzecchi still troubled by knee injury
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Another rider in the wars is Bezzecchi, who missed two races with a collarbone break and knee injury.
He was seen regularly icing his knee in Misano last time out when he crashed out of contention for victory.
Asked about his situation, he said: “My knee is something always disturbing me a little bit, but it’s going better day by day, which is important.
“It’s not completely OK, obviously but at the end it’s what we have so we will try our best to keep everything under control.”
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Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
08:30 AM
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Friday 25.09.26
Practice 3
08:30 AM
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Saturday 26.09.26
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11:00 AM
Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
Thu 08:30 AM
Practice 2
Thu 12:00 PM
Friday 25.09.26
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Fri 08:30 AM
Qualification
Fri 12:00 PM
Saturday 26.09.26
Race
Sat 11:00 AM
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