MotoGP Riders Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco Hospitalized After Catalunya Crashes

MotoGP riders Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco were taken to hospital after separate high-speed crashes at the Catalan Grand Prix on Sunday. The race was twice red-flagged before Fabio di Giannantonio took the chequered flag for his second career victory.

The first major incident occurred on lap 12 when race leader Pedro Acosta’s KTM suddenly lost power on the back straight. Alex Marquez, running second, collided with the slowing machine and was thrown from his Ducati, which cartwheeled through the air.

Marquez was attended by doctors on the track and transported to hospital by ambulance for further evaluation. His team Gresini Racing said he was conscious. Debris from the crash struck several riders including Fabio di Giannantonio, who was able to return to the pits and restart.

Zarco was taken to the circuit medical center and later to hospital for tests on his left leg. His team said he was not in critical condition. The race was shortened to a 12-lap sprint after the second red flag.

Fabio di Giannantonio passed Joan Mir with four laps remaining and took the lead with two laps to go. He finished ahead of Mir and Fermin Aldeguer.

“Today has not been an easy day for everybody. I really hope that Alex is fine. We’ve been really lucky. We know that our sport is amazing. We try to give an amazing show, but also we are humans and we are in danger. So I really hope that everybody is safe.”

Pole sitter Pedro Acosta crashed on the final lap after contact from another rider. Reigning champion Marc Marquez missed the race after fracturing his foot in France the previous weekend.