Scares in Barcelona, but Alex Márquez and Zarco calm fans

The Catalan Grand Prix delivered one of the season’s most turbulent Sundays, with three starts, two red flags and two riders taken away in ambulances after heavy crashes. Alex Márquez and Johann Zarco suffered the worst consequences, prompting questions in the paddock about why the race was not halted earlier. Morning testing also proved treacherous, as Jorge Martin fell at Turn 7 and was taken to a Barcelona hospital, where scans ruled out fractures to his left elbow and right fibula. A sudden downpour later forced Aprilia to abandon the afternoon session, soon followed by Ducati, Yamaha, KTM and Honda.

Márquez sustained a fractured right collarbone, repaired the same evening, and a cervical vertebra injury still under evaluation. Zarco, meanwhile, suffered serious knee ligament damage and a minor fibula injury after becoming trapped under Bagnaia’s Ducati. Both riders later reassured fans. Pedro Acosta topped the timesheets ahead of Fabio Quartararo, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales.