World Champion Marc Marquez is unlikely to return to MotoGP action before the final round in Valencia, according to medical staff.
Marquez suffered ligament damage and a fracture to his right shoulder following a first lap tangle with Marco Bezzecchi in Mandalika.
It had already confirmed the Ducati rider would miss the MotoGP rounds in Phillip Island and Malaysia, but his injury has since required surgery.
The effects of the crash have made it unlikely that the current World Champion will return any sooner than the final round of the season, with a return in Portimao also looking improbable.
MotoGP medical chief Dr Angel Charte admitted it will be “quite complicated” for the nine-time Champion to return in Portugal as aggravating the injury could have lasting effects.
“Last week, during a check-up at the Clinica Ruber Internacional in Madrid, Dr Roger de Ona and his team decided that [the injury] was unstable and, using their best judgement, decided to fix it much better,” he told DAZN.
“Marc has already undergone surgery, was discharged after 24 hours and has begun a period of rest.
“When the doctor deems it appropriate, he will begin his recovery.
“[He is already ruled out for] Australia, Malaysia, and a return to Portugal will be quite complicated, I think, because it’s an injury that can have lasting effects if it’s not treated with care.”
The comments from Dr. Charte came days after Spanish newspaper MARCA conducted an analysis into Marquez’s injury with comments from Dr Pedro Luis Ripoll.
Ripoll suggested that the nine-time World Champion faces a 16-week recovery period, a similar time-frame given for the injury suffered by Maverick Vinales at the German GP.
It remains uncertain whether Marquez will return this season, or even be able to partake in the post-season test at Valencia.
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