Bagnaia has surgery on foot fracture, eyes Portimao return

Pecco Bagnaia underwent surgery in Turin earlier this week after a crash in the Sprint in Qatar last Saturday, which fractured the fourth and fifth metatarsals in his right foot. The Ducati rider is now recovering, and it is difficult to predict when he will return with the Portuguese Grand Prix a week away.

Bagnaia wants to race at Portimao and would at least like to try. Ducati is waiting for him, but has a Plan B ready in Michele Pirro and Iker Lecuona. Pirro, fresh from testing at Jerez, would be ready to take over the GP26, possibly for his final appearance on the 1000cc machine. Lecuona is also a candidate, given his recent work at Gresini, where he replaced first Aldeguer and then Alex Marquez.