Alex Marquez is considering sitting out the next Qatar Grand Prix to bring forward surgery on the shoulder injured in his Barcelona crash. He revealed at Sepang that every option is being assessed, while Gresini Racing has not officially confirmed either a possible absence or the operation.

The rider suffered a serious accident in Barcelona in May and underwent surgery on his right collarbone. After returning from the Montmelo crash, he continued training at every race. The problem has nevertheless become harder to manage in recent rounds, with bursitis now affecting him. Marquez described the effort required to continue after the injury as difficult.

A decision could come quickly

The operation had originally been planned for the end of the season, but it is now being considered for as early as Tuesday. Dr Samuel Antuna is a possible surgeon after operating on Marc Marquez’s shoulder this year. Alex Marquez has also been among the more outspoken riders about the prospect of racing in Qatar, making the timing of any procedure significant for the remainder of his campaign.

The 2026 season concludes with back-to-back rounds in Portimao and Valencia, with Portimao regarded as particularly demanding physically. Having surgery now could give Marquez more than two weeks to recover before those final two Grands Prix. After Valencia, he is scheduled to make his first appearance on the KTM he will race next season, in a one-day test on Tuesday.

Marquez took pole at Sepang but crashed while leading Saturday’s sprint. He accepted responsibility and called the incident his own mistake. His Qatar participation therefore remains under consideration and has not been confirmed by Gresini Racing.