Alex Marquez to Miss Qatar Grand Prix for Shoulder Surgery

Alex Marquez has confirmed he will miss next weekend's Qatar Grand Prix to undergo surgery on his right shoulder. The Gresini Ducati rider announced the decision after finishing third from pole position in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, saying he will have the operation in Madrid on Monday and hopes to return for the Portuguese Grand Prix later in the month. Marquez broke his collarbone and damaged his right shoulder in a crash at the Catalan Grand Prix in May, and he has struggled with the injury ever since his return, developing bursitis in the joint. He revealed he has been racing with painkillers that are no longer working, and described the procedure as two operations in one: removing the large plate fitted to his collarbone and draining fluid to reduce inflammation in the shoulder. His absence adds to the uncertainty around the Qatar round, with Yamaha already announcing it will not attend the Lusail event, leaving the grid for the penultimate stretch of the season looking thinner than usual.