Lecuona to Replace Injured Marquez in Qatar
Iker Lecuona will ride for BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP at the Qatar Grand Prix after Alex Marquez underwent surgery.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Motorsports
Iker Lecuona will replace Alex Marquez at BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP for the Qatar Grand Prix on November 6 to 8, 2026. Marquez underwent surgery on November 2, 2026 to remove osteosynthesis material from his right collarbone and left hand and to perform an arthroscopic bursectomy.
Why it matters
Marquez is unable to race following his surgery, so the team has turned to a replacement rider for the Grand Prix. It is Lecuona's fourth replacement ride with the team in the 2026 Grand Prix season.
Lecuona's career-best MotoGP result is P7, earned on a previous replacement ride, and this will be his fourth replacement appearance in the 2026 season. The source does not specify Marquez's expected recovery timeline.
The players
Iker Lecuona
Iker Lecuona is a Spanish motorcycle racer and the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship runner-up, who rides for Aruba.it Racing - Ducati.
Alex Marquez
Alex Marquez is a Spanish MotoGP rider who competes for BK8 Gresini Racing and is the younger brother of six-time world champion Marc Marquez.
BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP
BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP is a team competing in the MotoGP World Championship, known for its longstanding presence in the premier motorcycle racing class.
The details
Lecuona, the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship runner-up who rides for Aruba.it Racing - Ducati in WorldSBK, will make the switch to MotoGP. It is his first MotoGP season since 2023, and he will share the track with his 2027 teammate, Franco Morbidelli.
Timeline
November 2, 2026: Alex Marquez undergoes surgery to remove hardware from his right collarbone and left hand.
November 6-8, 2026: Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit, with Lecuona riding.
Big Picture
This stand-in ride continues the pattern of Lecuona's earlier short-notice MotoGP appearances, the most recent of which yielded his career-best P7 finish. It marks his first MotoGP season since 2023.
Fantasy and standings followers will want to note that Lecuona is a stand-in for the Qatar round, which affects how the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP entry is treated for that weekend. The change is a single-race substitution, so the team's regular rider lineup is otherwise unchanged.
The takeaway
Short-notice replacements like this one can shape a rider's momentum, and Lecuona's previous stand-in result suggests a strong showing is possible. Following the Qatar round will show whether that carries into his remaining appearances.
What happens next
The Qatar Grand Prix takes place at the Lusail International Circuit from November 6 to 8, 2026, with Lecuona riding for BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP.
Further reading
For more on the sport, explore our Motorsports coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Official Home of WorldSBK.
