MotoGP, more races, more starts and more injuries
In September 2023 we commented on how Jorge Viegas’ (FIM president) triumphant slogan after the introduction of Sprint races – “More starts, more spectacle” – did not take into account at all the danger of MotoGP and the health of the riders.
Almost three years later, the trend of increasing injuries is confirmed, which are significantly affecting the world championship race.
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If we examine the top 10 of the riders’ world championship, only Ai Ogura and Luca Marini have escaped physical troubles, which have instead affected all the others.
The total number of injuries reaches 20 in just 12 Grand Prix. 14 surgeries, involving 10 riders. There are 20 total absences in Sunday Grand Prix races.
(Clearly, Raul Fernandez’s appendicitis is not counted in the total, obviously not related to on-track events).
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All this before the final rush of the championship which includes a triple and three doubles of consecutive races: in other words, how to further exhaust riders already tested by a very tough season.
But until the riders form an association to defend their interests, they will pay the price of the show…
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All the 2026 injuries of the main riders
| Rider | Injury | Absence |
| Jorge Martin 240 | – December: 2 surgeries on hand and collarbone | – 4 weeks off, misses Malaysia test |
| Marco Bezzecchi 209 | – July: 2 surgeries on collarbone and knee | – misses German GP weekend |
| Ai Ogura 203 | ||
| Marc Marquez 200 | – May: 2 surgeries on hand and shoulder | – misses French GP and Catalan GP weekend |
| Fabio Di Giannantonio 199 | – June: operated on a finger – July: small elbow fracture | |
| Raul Fernandez 194 | – June: appendicitis treated without surgery | |
| Pedro Acosta 163 | – June: operated on carpal tunnel | |
| Pecco Bagnaia 143 | – July: operated on carpal tunnel and for compartment syndrome | |
| Alex Marquez 106 | – May: operated on collarbone, marginal fracture of C7 vertebra | – misses Italy, Hungary and Czech Republic weekends |
| Luca Marini 86 | ||
| Fermin Aldeguer 76 | – January: operated on femur – June: fracture of T7 vertebra | – misses Thailand test and weekend – misses Hungary, Germany, Great Britain weekends |
| Enea Bastianini 76 | ||
| Brad Binder 72 | ||
| Fabio Quartararo 55 | – February: operated on a finger | – misses end of Sepang test |
| Diogo Moreira 54 | ||
| Franco Morbidelli 53 | ||
| Johann Zarco 34 | – May: cruciate ligament injury in knee, small femur fracture | – misses Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain weekends |
| Joan Mir 29 | – May: deep hand wound | |
| Jack Miller 23 | ||
| Alex Rins 21 | ||
| Toprak Razgatlioglu 14 | ||
| Maverick Vinales 10 | April: operated on shoulder August: shoulder problems | – misses Austin, Spain, France weekends – misses Great Britain weekend |
