Marc Marquez is likely to be unable to benefit from MotoGP’s new ‘injured rider’ take a look at rule earlier than returning to competitors in 2026.
The newly topped champion, who fractured his proper shoulder after a Mandalika collision triggered by Marco Bezzecchi, will even miss subsequent weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix – his third absence in a row – making him eligible for the particular one-day take a look at.
Launched this season following a proposal from Aprilia, the rule permits riders sidelined for a minimum of three consecutive ‘occasions’ or 45 days to finish a personal take a look at to gauge their health earlier than rejoining the MotoGP grid. The take a look at isn’t necessary.
Jorge Martin was the primary and to date solely rider to profit, finishing a day on an Aprilia RS-GP at Misano earlier than his return at Brno.
Nevertheless, in Marquez’s case, the regulation is probably not of sensible use.
Beneath the principles, the harm take a look at can solely be held “at a circuit the place the producer is allowed to check in accordance with their concession guidelines and/or take a look at circuit alternative (if relevant), or on any circuit the place no additional MotoGP Grand Prix is scheduled to happen following the take a look at in the identical season.”
In MotoGP, a season is outlined as “beginning on the day after the ultimate race of the 12 months, and ending on the day of the ultimate race of the next 12 months.” (A separate definition covers the three-event absence).
Then there’s the MotoGP winter take a look at ban for contracted riders to contemplate, which runs from December 1-January 31.
That leaves Marquez with a slender window of simply November 17–30 to carry an harm take a look at in 2025, and he’d must do it at considered one of Ducati’s designated take a look at tracks. In different phrases, in chilly and maybe moist situations in Europe.
Whereas he may technically full the take a look at on February 1–2, after the winter ban and simply earlier than the official Sepang take a look at (February 3–5), Ducati would face main logistical challenges flying personnel and equipment from Europe to Malaysia in time.
Non-public testing at Sepang can be dominated out, together with the Shakedown (January 29-31), since – if not a producer’s designated take a look at monitor – the harm take a look at venue must be “the place no additional MotoGP Grand Prix is scheduled to happen following the take a look at in the identical season.”
The 2026 Malaysian MotoGP takes place on October 30-Novembr 1.
All issues thought-about, Marquez seems to be most certainly to examine his health on a Panigale Superbike in January, then experience a Desmosedici for the primary time since Indonesia at the beginning of the Official Sepang take a look at.
