News Summary
- Marc Márquez deliberately published a photo showing the difference between his injured right shoulder and his healthy left side.
- The Ducati rider said he wanted to stop rumors and speculation about his physical condition by letting people see the injury for themselves.
- Márquez arrives at Misano just 19 points behind Jorge Martín in the 2026 MotoGP championship after taking all 37 available points at Aragón.
Marc Márquez has offered an unusually direct look at the physical consequences of his long-term right shoulder injury, explaining why he decided to publish a photo that clearly shows the difference between his injured side and his healthy shoulder.
Speaking in Misano on Thursday (10), Márquez said he chose to make the condition visible because he wanted to put an end to speculation about the problems he has faced throughout the 2026 season.
“I posted the photo because it’s the best way to stop people talking about my arm. I’ve learned that when there are questions, rumors and speculation, if you’re honest, everything becomes easier,” Márquez said.
The Ducati rider said he was already aware of the extent of his physical limitations, but believed there was little point in continuing to explain them without allowing people to see the situation themselves.
“I knew what I had, but now you have the photo, you have the interview with my doctor, who is the right person to explain what is happening with my body,” Márquez said.
The reference was to orthopedic surgeon Samuel Antuña, who recently detailed the extent of Márquez’s right-arm limitations after seven surgeries. Antuña said the 2025 Indonesian GP crash “changed everything” and revealed that Márquez’s right arm is operating at around 50% of its capacity, particularly because of reduced strength in the biceps. Márquez’s surgeon recently explained the extent of the physical damage caused by the surgeries and the Indonesia crash.
Márquez has previously spoken about how the injury has affected his daily life as well as his riding. He has had to adapt his riding style and sleeping position and can no longer play padel normally with his right arm. The Ducati rider previously detailed those day-to-day restrictions and how he has adapted his riding technique.
Márquez, however, insisted that the physical difficulties are not distracting him from the championship fight.
“Now I’m focused on the fight with what I have in this incredible championship,” the #93 concluded.
Márquez chooses transparency over speculation
The decision to publish the photo represents a change in Márquez’s approach to discussing his physical condition. Rather than repeatedly answering questions about the appearance and limitations of his right side, the Ducati rider chose to let the image provide the context.
The photo also came shortly after Antuña publicly explained the extent of the problem, including muscle atrophy and the lasting consequences of the surgeries. The surgeon stressed that Márquez’s right arm will never return to normal, while also praising the rider’s ability to compensate for those limitations and remain competitive.
Márquez’s physical condition has been a recurring subject throughout the season. At Silverstone, for example, he revealed that he had temporarily lost control of his right arm during the Sprint and had come close to crashing. Márquez later explained how the loss of control affected him during the British GP weekend.
Despite those limitations, his sporting form has improved significantly.
Márquez arrives at Misano in the title fight
Márquez swept the Aragón weekend, winning both the Sprint and Grand Prix to take all 37 available points and cut Jorge Martín’s championship advantage to 19 points.
That result transformed the title fight. Márquez now needs to gain 20 points on Martín at Misano to take the championship lead.
The Ducati rider nevertheless expects the San Marino GP to be more complicated than Aragón because of the different characteristics of the circuit. Márquez has won at Misano six times, however, and remains confident he can extract the maximum from the Ducati. He has already described Misano as a more complicated challenge than Aragón while maintaining confidence in his chances.
Jorge Martín leads the championship with 256 points, followed by Márquez on 237 and Marco Bezzecchi on 232. The narrow margins have turned the San Marino GP into another potentially decisive weekend in the 2026 title fight.
Martín, for his part, has played down the importance of holding the championship lead, saying the 19-point advantage is neither decisive nor a priority at this stage of the season. The Aprilia rider has insisted that the championship lead means little while the margins remain so tight.
MotoGP returns from September 11-13 for the San Marino Grand Prix and the Riviera di Rimini at Misano, the 14th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover the entire weekend from Italy.
FAQ
Why did Marc Márquez publish a photo of his injured shoulder?
Márquez said he wanted to stop rumors and speculation about his physical condition. He believes showing the injury directly is a more effective way of explaining what he is dealing with than repeatedly answering questions about it.
How serious is Marc Márquez’s right shoulder injury?
Márquez has undergone seven surgeries on his right arm and shoulder following a series of injuries. His surgeon Samuel Antuña said the right arm is currently at around 50% of its capacity and that several muscles have been affected by the procedures.
Can Marc Márquez still win the 2026 MotoGP championship?
Yes. Márquez is second in the standings with 237 points, just 19 behind Jorge Martín, after taking the maximum 37 points at Aragón. He needs to outscore Martín by at least 20 points at Misano to take the championship lead.
