MotoGP teams were forced to deal with a depleted field during Monday’s in-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after a bruising Catalan Grand Prix weekend left several riders injured.
Only 19 riders took part in the test session, with multiple high-profile absentees still recovering from crashes sustained during Sunday’s race.
Among those missing was Alex Marquez, who underwent surgery on a fractured right collarbone after a heavy crash involving Pedro Acosta. The Gresini rider also suffered a minor fracture to his C7 vertebra and remains under medical observation as he begins rehabilitation.
The accident was triggered when Acosta’s KTM machine reportedly suffered an electrical problem approaching Turn 10, leaving Marquez with little time to avoid contact.
Johann Zarco was another notable absentee after sustaining serious knee injuries during a separate multi-rider incident involving Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini at the first restart.
The French rider suffered damage to both cruciate ligaments, along with a medial meniscus injury and a small fibula tear near the ankle. Zarco spent the night in hospital following the crash, with no confirmed timeline yet for his return.
Race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio also skipped the Barcelona test despite his dramatic victory on Sunday. The VR46 rider is recovering from a left hand injury after being caught up in the earlier collision involving Acosta and Marquez.
The Italian team opted to prioritise Di Giannantonio’s recovery ahead of the upcoming Mugello Grand Prix later this month.
Adding to Ducati’s injury concerns, Marc Marquez was absent as he continues recovering from a broken foot suffered during the French Grand Prix weekend. The Spaniard has already undergone surgery and remains doubtful for the Italian round.
The reduced rider lineup also impacted manufacturers’ development programmes during one of the most important tests of the season.
Ducati fielded only three riders for testing duties, with Bagnaia joined by Franco Morbidelli and rookie Fermin Aldeguer. Honda also faced limitations following Zarco’s injury, leaving Joan Mir, Marini and LCR rookie Diogo Moreira to continue development work on the RC213V.
In contrast, KTM returned to full strength with Maverick Viñales back in action, while Aprilia fielded all four of its regular riders. Yamaha also utilised test rider Augusto Fernandez during the session.
The Barcelona test carries added significance as it represents the final major in-season opportunity for manufacturers to evaluate new components and concepts for their 2026 machines before attention gradually shifts toward MotoGP’s incoming 2027 regulations.
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