After the crash with Bezzecchi in Mandalika and subsequent shoulder surgery, the 2025 World Champion will not rush his recovery. Ducati confirms: Marquez will return for the Sepang test on February 3, 2026.
Marc Marquez’s 2025 season is officially over. No race in Portimão, no Valencia finale, and no post-season testing on November 18. Ducati has opted for caution, announcing that the reigning world champion will continue his rehabilitation from the right shoulder injury and postpone his return until early 2026.
The incident with Marco Bezzecchi at Mandalika had immediately hinted at something serious. Initial X-rays revealed a coracoid fracture and ligament damage, forcing Marquez to undergo surgery on October 13. Despite steady progress, his recovery has not yet reached the required level of stability for a safe comeback.
Neither he nor the team wanted to take any risks. “The goal is to arrive in Sepang (2026) in the best physical condition possible,” Ducati said in a statement. Michele Pirro, who already replaced him at Phillip Island, will once again step in for the upcoming rounds, including Sepang.
A 2025 to Remember — Even Without the Final Checkered Flag
For Marquez, 2025 will still go down as a season to remember: the world title crowned a nearly flawless year, marking his full return to form with Ducati and reaffirming his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. The disappointment of missing a proper farewell to the fans in Valencia is undeniable, but the decision is clear: better to stop now and return fully fit in 2026.
The date is set — February 3, 2026 — when MotoGP hits the track again at Sepang for pre-season testing. That’s when we’ll see the #93 back doing what he does best: pushing to the limit, as if nothing ever changed. Or at least, that’s the hope.
