Alex Marquez on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 confirmed he had undergone surgery on his right shoulder at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid, a procedure aimed at resolving a persistent injury that has blunted his performance since a crash in May. The Gresini Racing rider will miss the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix as a result.

What the Surgery Involved

Marquez described the procedure in detail via an Instagram post, in which he explained that surgeons removed osteosynthesis material — the plates and fixation elements — from his right collarbone and left hand. In the same operation, the medical team also performed an arthroscopic bursectomy on his right shoulder, removing a small sac that had been causing friction between the tendons and the joint.

"They removed the plates and fixation elements I had in my collarbone and hand. In addition, they removed a small sac in the shoulder that helps prevent friction between the tendons and the joint. This last procedure was performed by means of arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique," Marquez wrote.

Recovery Timeline and Return Target

Marquez confirmed the surgery "went without any complications," with home recovery now under way. He thanked Dr Samuel Antuna and the medical team, describing the procedure as "one more step toward getting back to 100 per cent." His stated aim is to return to racing at the Portugal Grand Prix, scheduled for 22 November.

A Difficult 2026 Season

The surgery comes at a challenging juncture for the younger Marquez. He currently sits eighth in the MotoGP riders' championship with 197 points, having claimed just one race win and three podiums this season. This is a stark contrast to his 2025 campaign, when he accumulated 467 points, took three wins and 12 podiums, and finished second in the championship behind elder brother Marc Marquez.

His most recent race weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix offered a mixed picture — he finished third in the main race behind Marc and Pedro Acosta, but crashed out of the sprint race despite starting from pole position. Notably, the shoulder issue has reportedly been a factor in his inconsistency throughout the second half of the season, making this operation a critical reset before the final rounds.

What's Next

With the Qatar GP now off the table, all attention turns to whether Marquez can recover in time for Portugal on 22 November. If he does return, the remaining rounds could still allow him to improve on his current eighth-place standing. His team, Gresini Racing, has not yet confirmed a replacement for the Qatar round.