Marco Bezzecchi
Aprilia have confirmed that 2026 MotoGP title hopeful Marco Bezzecchi is out of the German Grand Prix after suffering a “complete” fracture of his shoulder in qualifying.
Bezzecchi has endured a torrid run in recent rounds, and his woes continued on Saturday at the Sachsenring when the 27-year-old crashed heavily at Turn 7 during Q2. The Italian had a violent trip through the gravel trap after his high-side under acceleration for the left-hander.
Rimini native Bezzecchi had just threatened to be a contender for pole during qualifying for the German GP, after he slotted into second in the initial standings behind Ducati rival Marc Marquez. But pushing for a quicker time with his second lap of qualifying resulted in a crash.
What does this mean for Marco Bezzecchi’s 2026 title challenge?
Marco Bezzecchi requires surgery after his crash during qualifying in Germany
Bezzecchi was initially slow to get up, as marshals rushed to the Italian while he lay in the gravel, after his crash during qualifying for the German GP this Saturday. Images also soon seemed to show the Italian had hurt his hand, and he thus visited the track’s medical centre.
READ MORE: How to watch the 2026 German Grand Prix, plus the Sachsenring forecast
Bezzecchi also underwent an X-ray at the medical centre under the supervision of MotoGP’s medical director Dr Angel Charte, which revealed that he had suffered a complete fracture and displacement of the left clavicle. The 27-year-old will now return to Italy for surgery.
An Aprilia statement read: “Marco Bezzecchi was taken to the circuit medical centre where, under the supervision of MotoGP medical director Dr Angel Charte, he underwent an X-ray examination which revealed a complete and displaced fracture of the left clavicle.
“The type of fracture requires surgical intervention for optimal recovery, and it will be performed by Dr Giuseppe Porcellini in Italy. Marco Bezzecchi is planning to return to Italy as soon as possible.”
It is the latest major incident for Bezzecchi, who had miraculously avoided a serious injury at the TT Circuit Assen last time out after he crashed out of the Dutch Grand Prix. Bezzecchi hit the barriers at Assen after losing the front end of his Aprilia RS-GP at high speed in Turn 15.
Aprilia rider Bezzecchi’s Dutch GP crash and now his crash during qualifying for the German GP also follow crashes at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Czech Grand Prix. On top of that, Bezzecchi was banned for the Czech GP as he hit a marshal after a crash in the Sprint Race.
The Rimini native had started the year in dominant fashion with three wins in the first three races, and four wins in the first seven. But any hopes for winning his first MotoGP title have drastically fallen away ever since teammate Martin took Bezzecchi out at Turn 1 in Hungary.
Bezzecchi will now hope to return to full fitness as soon as possible, aided by MotoGP only having one race – the British Grand Prix on August 7-9 – between the German GP this week and the Aragon Grand Prix on August 28-30, leading into a far busier run to the final round.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
