MotoGP’s crash-filled Catalan GP forces several riders out of Barcelona test

A depleted field is taking part in MotoGP’s in-season test in Barcelona, with only 19 riders running on track on Monday morning.

As expected, both Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco are skipping the test after fractures in Sunday’s race and spending the night in the hospital.

But surprisingly, VR46 announced that Catalan Grand Prix winner Fabio di Giannantonio will also sit out the test to “focus on his recovery ahead of the next GP [in Mugello on 31 May].

Di Giannantonio had already slowed down in response to the collision between Marquez and Pedro Acosta, but he went down at Turn 10 after being struck by an errant wheel from the Gresini Ducati.

The Italian was able to bring his hobbled bike back to the pits and take the restart, passing Acosta’s KTM with three laps to go to claim his second career win in MotoGP.

It remains unclear when both Marquez and Zarco will be able to return to action. After hitting the ground heavily, Marquez broke his right collarbone, which was immediately operated on by the doctors on Sunday night. He also suffered a small fracture to his vertebra, but no surgery was needed according to the initial analysis.

Zarco’s leg got stuck in Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati at the first restart, leading to the race being red-flagged for a second time. After being transported to the hospital, scans revealed injuries to his knee and a small tear to his ankle.

The fourth race rider to miss the Barcelona test is Marc Marquez, who broke his foot in a crash over the French Grand Prix weekend. The factory Ducati rider is currently recovering at home after undergoing surgeries to both his broken foot and the battered right shoulder. It remains unclear if he will be fit to return to the Italian GP.

With the Marquez brothers and di Giannantonio out, Ducati is down to just three riders in the Barcelona test: Bagnaia (factory team), Franco Morbidelli (VR46) and Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini).

Honda also loses Zarco’s experience, with the RC213V being tested by factory duo Luca Marini and Joan Mir, and LCR rookie Diogo Moreira.

KTM is back to full strength following Maverick Vinales’ return in the Catalan GP, while all four Aprilia riders are also in action.

The only manufacturer to field a test rider on Monday is Yamaha, with Augusto Fernandez back on track after taking part in Sunday’s race as a wildcard.

The Barcelona test marks the last official in-season test of the year, offering manufacturers an opportunity to bring any further developments to their 2026 bikes before switching focus to the next regulation cycle.

While further tyre tests are scheduled at Brno in June and the Red Bull Ring in September, they are specifically aimed at the upcoming 2027 regulations.

Photos from Catalan GP – Sunday