I honestly don't know how they do it. I dumped a Suzuki (not in a race) at a pretty good clip on sand. Fortunately leathered up and only broke a few ribs.
But these guys!
Posted on 05/18/2026 12:15:57 PM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701
MotoGP competitor Alex Marquez was airlifted to hospital following a devastating collision at today's Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia in Montmelo (Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya).
The 30-year-old Gresini Racing rider slammed into the rear of Pedro Acosta's machine on lap 12 after the race leader's bike suffered a sudden power failure.
Acosta, who had been heading the field, attempted to alert approaching riders but Marquez was travelling too close behind to take evasive action.
The impact sent the Spaniard's Ducati careering off the circuit, where it struck uneven ground and cartwheeled violently through the air whilst disintegrating into pieces.
Marquez remained conscious throughout the ordeal and was transported by helicopter from the Barcelona circuit for further assessment.
His team subsequently confirmed the extent of his injuries via social media: a marginal fracture to the C7 vertebra, with additional evaluation scheduled for next week, alongside a fractured right clavicle.
The collarbone break requires surgical intervention, with doctors set to stabilise the bone using a plate during an operation at Hospital General de Catalunya later today.
(Excerpt) Read more at gbnews.com ...
There was a crash on Lap 12, then the ensuing restart, and another in today's testing session.
I love speed bot those guys are insane! Amazing talent but insane. Racing on the razor’s edge.
If that’s the extent of his injuries, that’s great news.
MotoGP DOES look insane. I have road-raced motorcycles and bicycles. It seems like in the last few years there have been more deaths in the UCI pro peloton than on the motorcycles. Racing either at the limits is a risky business.
On a motorcycle there is little margin for error.
I honestly don't know how they do it. I dumped a Suzuki (not in a race) at a pretty good clip on sand. Fortunately leathered up and only broke a few ribs.
But these guys!
“Racing on the razor’s edge.“
So close to the edge it’s hard to feel sorry for them. More like “what did you expect?”
“I dumped a Suzuki (not in a race) at a pretty good clip on sand.”
Sand on the road is like ice.
It may be uncomfortable, but dress for the slide not for the ride.
Really miss riding but very glad I gave it up.
Indeed, old bones take much longer to heal.
F1 owns MotoGP now. The Bassmasters final day from my home area (Lake Marion/Santee Cooper) was delayed in broadcast because of the length of the Catalan GP.
Some riders are now pushing to move the start line for the race next year (will not affect the upcoming F1 Barcelona-Catalonia Grand Prix) to reduce the speeds from 185 to 90 MPH because of the crash on the first restart. Speeds are over 200 MPH to the braking zone at the Montmelo circuit on a typical MotoGP lap.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.