MOTORCYCLING: Marquez, Zarco discharged from hospital after Catalan Grand Prix crashes

Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco have both been discharged from hospital after sustaining injuries in separate crashes during a dramatic Catalan Grand Prix that was red-flagged twice on Sunday.

Gresini Racing rider Alex Marquez was taken to hospital after a violent crash in which he struck the back of Pedro Acosta’s bike before sliding into the gravel and being launched into the air. He was later confirmed to have suffered a minor fracture in a vertebra near his neck, along with a fractured right collarbone.

In a statement on Monday, Gresini Racing said Marquez underwent successful surgery overnight to stabilize his right clavicle with a metal plate. The team also confirmed that he was cleared to leave the hospital later in the day to continue recovery at home.

After the race restart, LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco was also involved in a heavy incident, colliding with Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and Honda’s Luca Marini. Zarco tumbled across the gravel with his leg caught briefly on Bagnaia’s bike.

LCR Honda later confirmed that the French rider suffered knee ligament damage as well as a small fracture in his ankle. He was discharged from Hospital Universitari General de Catalunya on Monday afternoon and subsequently traveled to France.

Zarco is scheduled to meet knee specialist Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet in Lyon on Tuesday for further evaluation and to determine the next steps in his recovery.

Both riders are now expected to begin rehabilitation programs as teams monitor their progress following the high-impact crashes in Barcelona. -Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters