Current MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is preparing to make his return to racing at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, according to an announcement from his team Ducati on Tuesday. The comeback follows dual surgical procedures after a crash at Le Mans earlier this month.
The champion was sidelined from both the French Grand Prix race and the entire Catalan Grand Prix weekend due to a foot fracture sustained during a severe highside crash in Le Mans’ sprint race.
The 33-year-old underwent surgery to repair a metatarsal fracture and also had a shoulder procedure that had been planned for after his home Catalan Grand Prix.
“Following a positive medical check, Marc will travel to Mugello tomorrow,” Ducati announced in their statement.
“He is scheduled for a final trackside assessment on Thursday to secure the ‘fit to race’ clearance for the Italian Grand Prix.”
In a separate development, Ducati’s Italian test rider Michele Pirro will take over for Marquez’s brother Alex on the Gresini Racing motorcycle following the Spaniard’s severe crash at the Catalan Grand Prix.
Alex faces time away from both the Italian and Hungarian Grands Prix due to a minor vertebra fracture near his neck area, combined with a fractured right collarbone.
