Marc Marquez suffers broken arm and possible nerve damage after crash in opening MotoGP race

Reigning world champion gets title defence off to the worst possible start after suffering a fractured right arm in a high-speed accident as Fabio Quartararo secures his maiden MotoGP victory

Marc Marquez suffered a broken arm and possible nerve damage in the opening MotoGP race of the season (AP)

Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez suffered a broken arm and possible nerve damage after being struck by his own bike in a high-speed fall during the season-opening Spanish Grand Prix.

The eight-time world champion fell off late in the race after mounting a comeback ride following an early error, and a heavy impact with the tarmac was followed by a collision with the front wheel of his Repsol Honda, before cart-wheeling into the gravel trap on the outside of Jerez’s Turn 3.

“Marc Marquez has suffered an injury it seems from a direct impact of the tyre to the right arm, resulting in a fracture to the shaft of the humerus, a complete fracture, although it isn’t completely displaced, with some possible paralysis of the radial nerve, although we’re not certain,” said MotoGP traumatology specialist Dr Xavier Mir.

“This injury has been immobilised here for when they decide to move him to Barcelona to carry out a definitive treatment.”

Honda confirmed that the 27-year-old Spaniard will undergo surgery on the injury on Monday once he has travelled to Barcelona, and he looks certain to miss next weekend’s second race of the season, which will also take place at the Andalucian circuit.

A Honda statement read: “After mounting an incredible comeback in the Spanish GP, Marc Marquez suffered a high side at Turn 3 and came down heavily on his right arm. As a result the eight-time world champion has suffered a transverse diaphyseal fracture to his right humerus. MotoGP medical staff have confirmed there is no other serious head or thoracic trauma but will remain under observation for 12 hours.

“Marquez will travel to the Hospital Universitari Dexeus in Barcelona on Monday, 20 July and is aiming to be operated on by Dr Xavier Mir and his team on Tuesday, 21 July.

“Recovery time is as yet unknown, the Repsol Honda Team will provide an update after the operation.”

Watch the crash below...

The injury is likely to prove a decisive factor in Marquez’s hopes of winning a fifth consecutive MotoGP title and a seventh in the last eight years, with points at a premium this season due to the shortened calendar.

More than four months after the season was due to get underway in Qatar, MotoGP finally resumed following the coronavirus pandemic in Spain, where seven of the 13 confirmed races this season will be staged. Marquez made a strong start to overtake Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales early and lead the pack, only to lose control at Turn 4 and just prevent himself from falling after tracking through the gravel trap.

After recovering from 18th position, Marquez had his sights on second place and was bearing down on Vinales once again when he crashed, allowing his fellow Spaniard to ride home to second place behind race-winner Fabio Quartarao, who led home a Yamaha one-two to become the first French MotoGP winner since Regis Laconi 21 years ago.

Marquez was carried away on a stretcher after the high-speed accident (Reuters)

The win for the Petronas SRT team marked the first for a satellite Yamaha team in the MotoGP era, with Andrea Dovizioso securing third with a late move on fellow Ducati rider Jack Miller just two weeks after having surgery on a broken collarbone.

Marquez’s injury was far from the first of the weekend, with Britain’s Cal Crutchlow forced to sit out the opening race of the season with a mild concussion due to a crash in warm-up. Crutchlow was joined by Alex Rins, who was declared unfit to ride due to a shoulder fracture suffered in a high-speed qualifying accident.