Francesco Bagnaia underwent successful surgery Tuesday in Turin to repair a double fracture of the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones in his right foot, with Ducati targeting a return for the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao. The procedure, led by Dr. Luigi Milano, secured a plate to the fourth metatarsal following a Lap 1 crash in Saturday’s Qatar GP Sprint. Bagnaia’s recovery progress will determine his exact return date.
The procedure involved securing a plate to the fourth metatarsal of Bagnaia’s right foot, officials said.
The surgery was performed at the Humanitas Cellini Clinic in Turin, with the medical team led by Dr. Luigi Milano, according to MotoGP officials.
Bagnaia sustained the injury during a Lap 1 crash in Saturday’s Qatar GP Sprint at the Lusail International Circuit. The incident occurred following a collision with Fermin Aldeguer of BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, according to race reports. The #63 rider was stretchered away from the crash site and later diagnosed with two fractures in his right foot.
Ducati has indicated that Bagnaia will begin his rehabilitation process as soon as possible, with the team targeting a return for the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao. However, team officials said his recovery progress over the coming days will determine the exact timeline for his return to action.
The injury sidelines Bagnaia ahead of the Argentine Grand Prix, scheduled for this weekend at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. Ducati has not yet announced a replacement rider for the event, with team officials saying a decision will be made in the coming days.
Bagnaia, the two-time MotoGP world champion, entered the 2025 season as a title contender after finishing second in the championship standings last year. The Italian rider had completed pre-season testing at Sepang and Buriram without incident before the Qatar crash.
The incident marks the latest setback for Bagnaia, who has dealt with several injuries throughout his premier-class career. In 2023, he suffered a fractured tibia in a crash at the Catalan Grand Prix, forcing him to miss the subsequent round at Mugello. He returned to competition after a three-week layoff.
The crash in Qatar also drew attention to the opening-lap incident involving multiple riders. Race stewards reviewed the collision between Bagnaia and Aldeguer but took no further action, according to MotoGP officials.
Ducati’s medical team will monitor Bagnaia’s recovery closely, with follow-up examinations scheduled in the coming week to assess bone healing and determine when he can begin weight-bearing exercises, team officials said.
The Portuguese Grand Prix is scheduled for April 13 at the Algarve International Circuit. If Bagnaia is unable to compete at Portimao, Ducati could face a decision on whether to field a substitute rider or run a reduced two-bike operation for the event.
Bagnaia’s teammate, Marc Marquez, currently leads the championship standings after winning the Qatar Grand Prix. The Spanish rider secured victory in Sunday’s main race, finishing ahead of Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli.
The MotoGP season continues this weekend with the Argentine Grand Prix, marking the second round of the 2025 championship. Ducati has not confirmed whether Bagnaia will travel with the team to South America or remain in Europe to continue his rehabilitation.
