The Spanish rider already missed last week's race weekend in Jerez, and it appears that he will be continuing his recovery off the circuit for the forseeable future. In his place, Germany's Jonas Folger, a former podium finisher with Yamaha and KTM in the past, will step up to the plate.

Folger might not be a well-known name on the MotoGP grid due to his limited appearances, but he has already proven himself as a worthy replacement for 'Mav' thanks to his previous exploits. Not only was he a race winner in Moto2, but also secured a podium at the 2017 German Grand Prix in the premier class, finishing second to none other than Marc Marquez.

Unfortunately, Folger suffered a great deal to illness and was later diagnosed with Gilbert's Syndrome, a liver issue which can be very debilitating and tiring.

The paddock will be pleased to welcome back an enthusiastic and proven racer, though Folger will have a fair amount of adapting to do in order to get used to the current generation of bikes.

In related news, MotoGP Group have announced the latest series of changes to both the current and 2027 regulations, with a dramatic impact for wildcard and test riders. The changes are just the latest in a series of new rules implemented by Liberty Media since their 2025 takeover.

Since acquiring a majority share in MotoGP last year, Liberty Media have been quick to assert their authority on the sport with a view to making it more similar to Formula 1. The changes have been met with a mixed reaction from fans and riders alike, and now, six new rules have been publicized, some of which will take effect immediately. Read all about it here.