Di Giannantonio wins Catalan Grand Prix, Alex Marquez hurt in horror crash

Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio won the Catalunya MotoGP on Sunday, May 17, 2026, while Alex Marquez was injured and hospitalized after being thrown from his motorcycle.

The race was red flagged twice, once after Pedro Acosta’s bike cut out and Marquez came into contact with him, and once after his Ducati-Gresini was totaled in a horrific crash.

After the restart, French driver Johann Zarco crashed at the first corner and the race was red flagged and restarted with 12 laps remaining.

Marquez’s team, Gresini, later confirmed that he suffered fractures to his cervical vertebrae and right collarbone.

In his statement on social media, Gresini said, “He will be operated on today by the Hospital General de Catalunya team.”

Acosta started on pole and was ahead until Di Giannantonio took the lead with two laps remaining.

Joan Mir and Fermin Aldeguer also moved ahead of Acosta; Acosta suffered shortly before the end after being eliminated by Ai Ogura, who was hit with a time penalty and dropped to ninth place.

Mir, who finished second, was later dropped to 13th with a 16-second penalty due to low tire pressure; He is one of five drivers to receive a penalty long after the race has ended.

As a result, Fermin Aldeguer moved from third to second and Francesco Bagnaia took the podium.

Overall leader Marco Bezzecchi struggled but managed to extend his advantage after closest rival Jorge Martin’s fifth crash of the weekend.

Raul Fernandez removed Martin after trying an aggressive inside move as they battled for the lead, leaving fourth-placed Bezzecchi 15 points ahead after results were adjusted for penalties.

‘We are in danger’

Di Giannantonio injured his hand in the first horror crash, when the wheel of Marquez’s wrecked bike hit the Italian rider, but the VR46 rider recovered to claim his first MotoGP victory in three years.

“I’m very happy. But above all I was really worried about all the drivers who crashed,” Di Giannantonio said.

“Today was not an easy day for everyone. I hope Alex (Marquez) is okay. We were really lucky.”

“We know our sport is great. We’re trying to put on a great show, we’re human, we’re in danger.”

Di Giannantonio’s victory lifted him to third place with 116 points, followed by Acosta with 92 points.

Marquez, who won the Catalan Grand Prix last year and also won the sprint on Saturday, May 16, 2026, was pushing leader Acosta when the accident occurred.

Acosta lost speed due to a technical problem and Marquez hit his bike, went off the track and was involved in a terrible accident and was taken to hospital conscious.

Last weekend, reigning champion Alex Marquez’s older brother Marc was injured after another violent crash at Le Mans.

The second major incident was the collision involving Zarco, Luca Marini and Bagnaia.

After Zarco was caught by Bagnaia’s bike, he was taken to hospital by ambulance for checks.

LCR MotoGP team boss Lucio Cecchinello said Zarco had pain in his “femur area”, left leg and knee.