Marc Marquez could return for MotoGP season finale in Valencia but Ducati 'don't want to rush' injury comeback - 'He has suffered a lot'
Marc Marquez will not get the end to a dominant MotoGP season that he would have hoped for after the newly-crowned world champion suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. Speaking to TNT Sports, Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi suggested the Spanish star could be back on track for the season finale in Valencia. However, they "don't want to rush" any comeback.
Injured Marquez could return for Valencia finale, says Tardozzi – ‘We don’t want to be in a rush’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ducati hope that MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will return from injury in time for the 2025 season finale in Valencia, while Aprilia have confirmed Jorge Martin is out of the Malaysia GP.
Fresh off claiming a seventh world title in Japan, Marquez suffered a crash in Indonesia that left him requiring shoulder surgery.
The timeline of the Spaniard’s return was initially left in doubt, but Tardozzi told TNT Sports at Phillip Island during Friday’s practice session that he is hopeful Marquez will race again before the season ends.
"The injury is quite bad, it doesn’t allow him to be in the next two races, so we’ll see how it’s going to be for the last one," Tardozzi said.
"We are hoping he will be back for Valencia, but we have to wait for the new scan and what [the doctors] say in two weeks."
"We don’t want to be in a rush," he added.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/10/17/image-b56fcd55-deae-4f22-973c-c32871fc2cc0-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
‘Joey is here!’ – Kangaroo joins MotoGP practice in Australia – and crashes
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He has suffered a lot in the past with his back, being too early or too soon to races, so we want to keep the time that is necessary to heal the surgery that he had last week."
Marquez went under the knife after being diagnosed with a fracture at the base of the coracoid process and a ligament injury to his right shoulder.
- Marc Marquez undergoes successful surgery on right shoulder injury
- 'I accept it' – Bezzecchi handed penalty for Marquez crash
It is an unfortunate end to what has been a dominant season for the Ducati star, who won 11 Grand Prix races and 15 Sprints to surge to a seventh title with five rounds to spare.
His injury means he is absent for this weekend’s racing at Phillip Island in Australia, with test rider Michele Pirro stepping in for Ducati.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/10/17/image-948f2ad6-4c53-4845-a1ef-58e59ebf76c1-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Acosta drifts like legend Stoner at Phillip Island – ‘Not good for tyre life, but good fun’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marquez will also miss the Malaysia GP on 26 October and the Portugal GP on 9 November ahead of the season finale in his homeland of Spain, with the Valencia GP on 16 November.
Former world champion Martin will also be absent for the next round in Malaysia after Aprilia confirmed another absence in his injury-beset season.
Martin, who stormed to a stunning maiden MotoGP title win last season on the final day, has been unable to compete to reclaim his crown in 2025 after a string of injury issues.
The Aprilia rider broke his collarbone during a multi-rider crash at the start of the Japan Sprint race, subsequently missing the Japan GP, Indonesia GP and this weekend’s racing in Australia.
Martin’s team have now confirmed he will miss Malaysia too, making the penultimate round in Portugal his earliest possible return date.
In his absence, Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi went fastest in Friday's practice session with a superb track record time of 1:26.492.
- 'Best to leave him alone' - Tardozzi on 'devastated' Bagnaia after Indonesia nightmare
- Rookie Aldeguer leaves Hodgson 'speechless' after 'incredible' win in Indonesia
It was a statement performance from the Italian, whose chances of victory in Sunday's Grand Prix took a blow when he was handed a double Long Lap penalty for his crash with Marquez in Indonesia.
"I didn't expect to be so much faster at that point. Unfortunately, I made a [misjudgement]. I tried to avoid contact as much as I could," Bezzecchi said of the incident.
"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do it, and I just touched a little bit of the rear end of Marc’s bike."
Watch and stream every race of the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement