{"id":2015,"date":"2026-09-10T09:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T12:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=2015"},"modified":"2026-09-10T10:17:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T13:17:36","slug":"marquezs-surgeon-if-marc-were-carlos-alcaraz-he-would-have-had-to-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/marquezs-surgeon-if-marc-were-carlos-alcaraz-he-would-have-had-to-retire\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s surgeon: &#8220;If Marc were Carlos Alcaraz, he would have had to retire&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Samuel Antu\u00f1a said Marc M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s 2025 Indonesian GP crash effectively forced him to &#8220;start from zero&#8221; in his recovery after an acromioclavicular dislocation and a coracoid fracture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Ducati rider later suffered dynamic compression of the radial nerve, causing him to lose control of his right arm in certain positions while riding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Antu\u00f1a said M\u00e1rquez still has room to improve but will never have a normal right arm again, making his ability to keep winning races particularly remarkable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marc M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s physical condition remains one of the most remarkable aspects of his 2026 MotoGP campaign, and surgeon Samuel Antu\u00f1a has now detailed how last year&#8217;s Indonesian GP crash fundamentally changed the Ducati rider&#8217;s recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antu\u00f1a, the orthopedic surgeon responsible for M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s treatment, explained that the Spaniard&#8217;s right arm had been relatively well compensated before the incident with Marco Bezzecchi at Mandalika. M\u00e1rquez was still weaker on the right side after years of injuries and surgeries, but he was able to ride without significant pain or discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Indonesian crash changed that situation completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;When Marc won the championship last year, after so much effort and so many setbacks, the condition of his right arm had improved a lot. From what he told us, he felt comfortable riding the new bike,&#8221; Antu\u00f1a told <em>El Peri\u00f3dico<\/em>. &#8220;I wouldn&#8217;t dare say that his right arm was fine at that point, but he could compete and didn&#8217;t have much discomfort, even though the arm was still weak as a result of all the surgeries he had undergone on the humerus and shoulder.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The surgeon said M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s strength on the right was never comparable with that of his left, but the rider had adapted to the limitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Before the accident in Indonesia he was doing well, he could compete, he didn&#8217;t have pain and he didn&#8217;t complain about anything. But that fall changed everything,&#8221; Antu\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Indonesia crash forced M\u00e1rquez to start over<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The incident at Mandalika left M\u00e1rquez with an acromioclavicular dislocation and a fracture at the base of the coracoid process. According to Antu\u00f1a, properly healing the shoulder was particularly important because of the demands placed on the body by a MotoGP bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;For someone who rides at 350 km\/h, the proper healing of that dislocation is crucial to avoid long-term problems,&#8221; the surgeon explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dislocation eventually healed, but another complication emerged. The crash displaced a fragment of bone that had been used years earlier to stabilize M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">M\u00e1rquez continued racing and fighting for victories, but began experiencing pain and difficulties controlling his right arm. Those problems eventually led doctors to identify the underlying cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;When we examined him thoroughly, we found that one of the most important nerves in the arm, the radial nerve, was being dynamically compressed by that piece of bone,&#8221; Antu\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The compression meant M\u00e1rquez could lose control of his arm in certain positions while riding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;In certain positions during races and training, Marc would completely lose control of his arm, and that&#8217;s why he was falling,&#8221; the surgeon explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The discovery led to another operation. M\u00e1rquez immediately agreed to the procedure, but the medical team brought in peripheral-nerve specialist Andr\u00e9s Maldonado because of the complexity of the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Doctors removed the displaced bone fragment and several screws that were in contact with the nerve. Antu\u00f1a said the procedure produced a significant improvement in the arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The surgery was another chapter in a long physical battle that began with M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s devastating right humerus fracture in 2020. He has now undergone seven operations involving the right arm and shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">M\u00e1rquez has adapted his riding to an altered arm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The visible difference between M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s shoulders became particularly apparent after the rider posted a shirtless training photo on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antu\u00f1a explained that the asymmetry is a consequence of the repeated surgeries and the resulting changes to the muscles around the shoulder and arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Marc doesn&#8217;t lack muscles, but the triceps, latissimus dorsi, teres major and pectoralis major have been affected by the various surgeries. They are slightly atrophied and altered,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biceps remains the biggest problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Marc has a strong latissimus dorsi, but it is mechanically altered. The same applies to the teres major. The biggest problem is that he has lost strength in the biceps,&#8221; Antu\u00f1a explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The surgeon emphasized that M\u00e1rquez has responded by training as hard as possible and adapting his riding technique to the physical characteristics of his right arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That adaptation has become a crucial part of the Spaniard&#8217;s ability to remain competitive. M\u00e1rquez has previously acknowledged that his physical condition still limits him, while also explaining how he has changed his riding style to compensate for the shoulder problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antu\u00f1a believes there is still room for improvement, particularly because M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s most recent surgery took place only three months ago. But the recovery will take time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The biceps will improve, but it doesn&#8217;t improve as quickly or as well at 33 as it did at 22,&#8221; Antu\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The surgeon nevertheless made clear that M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s right arm will never return to its pre-injury condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We are in a process that is slow and, at the moment, he is better than he was. But he does not have a normal arm, and he never will,&#8221; Antu\u00f1a said. &#8220;Marc has difficulty playing padel, and that says it all.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;If Marc were Carlos Alcaraz, he would have had to retire&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked whether a tennis player with the same physical limitations could continue competing at the highest level, Antu\u00f1a used Carlos Alcaraz as an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;If Marc were Carlos Alcaraz, he would have had to retire from professional tennis. He could play tennis, but as a fan,&#8221; the surgeon said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The comparison illustrates the extent to which M\u00e1rquez has been able to compensate for a significant physical deficit while remaining capable of competing for MotoGP victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antu\u00f1a described the rider as an exceptional athlete whose ability to compensate for his limitations is difficult to quantify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Marc has a capacity to compensate for his shortcomings that is difficult to believe,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That arm is very limited in terms of strength, especially the biceps. I think the expression that Marc is currently racing with one and a half arms fits the current condition of his right arm.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The surgeon also praised M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s attitude throughout the recovery process, saying the Ducati rider rarely complains and has continued working despite the physical difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Clinically, it is difficult to understand what Marc is doing, the way he continues to win races,&#8221; Antu\u00f1a said. &#8220;Many would have retired with the injuries Marc has suffered.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can M\u00e1rquez still win a 10th MotoGP title?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s physical condition is particularly relevant as the 2026 championship enters its decisive phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ducati rider arrives at the San Marino GP just 19 points behind Jorge Mart\u00edn after a dominant Arag\u00f3n weekend, where he collected the maximum 37 points from the Sprint and Grand Prix. Marco Bezzecchi is another 5 points behind M\u00e1rquez, leaving the title fight tightly contested with nine rounds remaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antu\u00f1a refused to predict whether M\u00e1rquez can overcome his physical limitations to win a 10th world championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Nobody knows whether, with an arm that has suffered so many injuries and limitations, Marc will be able to win another championship,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What the surgeon does believe is that M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s example will endure beyond his results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Those of us who have been fortunate enough to treat Marc personally know that his example will remain among the athletes who follow him: not only because of the courage, work ethic and determination that make what he is doing so remarkable, but also because he does it with the humility that characterizes a good person,&#8221; Antu\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The MotoGP season resumes from September 11-13 with the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, the 14th round of the 2026 championship. <strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> will cover the entire weekend across MotoGP and the other World Championship categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"903\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MotoGP-2026-Marc-Marquez-903x1024.jpg\" alt=\"MotoGP 2026 Marc M\u00e1rquez\" class=\"wp-image-1020314356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MotoGP-2026-Marc-Marquez-903x1024.jpg 903w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MotoGP-2026-Marc-Marquez-265x300.jpg 265w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MotoGP-2026-Marc-Marquez-768x871.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MotoGP-2026-Marc-Marquez-150x170.jpg 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MotoGP-2026-Marc-Marquez.jpg 1206w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 903px) 100vw, 903px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marc M\u00e1rquez showed the physical effects of his multiple surgeries on his right arm (Photo: Reproduction)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How serious is Marc M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s right-arm injury?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s right arm has been affected by multiple injuries and seven surgeries since 2020. His latest complications included an acromioclavicular dislocation, a coracoid fracture and dynamic compression of the radial nerve. His surgeon says the arm remains significantly weaker than the left and will never return to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why did Marc M\u00e1rquez need another surgery in 2026?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A bone fragment displaced in the 2025 Indonesian GP crash was dynamically compressing the radial nerve, causing M\u00e1rquez to lose control of his right arm in certain riding positions. Surgeons removed the fragment and several screws during his latest operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Marc M\u00e1rquez still win the 2026 MotoGP championship?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. M\u00e1rquez remains firmly in the title fight and is 19 points behind Jorge Mart\u00edn heading into the San Marino GP. However, his physical condition remains an important factor as he continues to recover from his latest surgery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Samuel Antu\u00f1a detailed the physical consequences of Marc M\u00e1rquez&#8217;s latest injuries and explained why the Ducati rider&#8217;s continued success remains difficult to understand from a medical perspective<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020313476,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Marc M\u00e1rquez's surgeon reveals why his right arm may never return to normal","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Ducati","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_ai_content_disclaimer":"","42wp_is_ai_content":false,"42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[],"footnotes":"","42wp_hide_from_automatic":false,"42wp_breaking_news":false},"categories":[38],"tags":[108,104,315,323],"42wp_author":[36],"class_list":["post-2015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motogp","tag-ducati","tag-marc-marquez","tag-motogp-2026","tag-san-marino-gp","42wp_author-juliana-tesser"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2015"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2020,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2015\/revisions\/2020"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020313476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2015"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=2015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}