MotoGP riders Álex Márquez and Johann Zarco taken to hospital after crashes at Catalunya GP

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — MotoGP riders Álex Márquez and Johann Zarco were taken to hospital after they crashed in separate incidents at the Catalunya Grand Prix on Sunday.

Both were conscious after the crashes. Márquez was scheduled to undergo surgery later Sunday to stabilize his right clavicle. He also sustained a fractured vertebra and “further evaluation will be completed next week,” his team said.

Márquez was attended by doctors on the track and was transported to the hospital in an ambulance for “further evaluation," according to race officials. Spanish media, citing sources close to the rider, said his injuries were not life-threatening.

Márquez' motorcycle flipped over several times after he was thrown to the ground following a collision with then-race leader Pedro Acosta. Acosta had slowed down suddenly after an issue with his motorcycle and Márquez couldn't avoid him on the back straightaway. The impact sent Márquez hurtling off the track at high speed.

His bike quickly fell apart and debris struck other riders, including Fabio Di Giannantonio and Raúl Fernández.

The race, at about the halfway mark, was red-flagged.

Another red flag stopped the race on the ensuing restart after the accident involving Zarco, whose leg got entangled on the rear of another rider's motorcycle. Zarco was trapped as the bike flipped over several times.

Zarco's team said he was not in critical condition when he was taken to the circuit's medical center. He was eventually taken to a hospital for further examination of his leg.

The race was later restarted and Di Giannantonio, who was able to make it back to the grid after the first crash, won the race.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, center, steers his motorcycle during the MotoGP race of the Grand Prix of Catalunya in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Italian rider Franco Morbidelli of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team steers his motorcycle followed by Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio of the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team during the MotoGP race of the Grand Prix of Catalunya in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Spain's rider Jorge Martin of the Aprilia Racing steers his motorcycle followed by France's rider Johann Zarco of the CASTROL Honda LCR and Spain's rider Alex Marquez of the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP during the MotoGP race of the Grand Prix of Catalunya in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Spain's rider Alex Marquez of the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP steers his motorcycle followed by France's rider Johann Zarco of the CASTROL Honda LCR during the MotoGP race of the Grand Prix of Catalunya in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Spain's rider Raul Fernandez of the Trackhouse MotoGP Team steers his motorcycle followed by Spain's rider Pedro Acosta of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Spain's rider Alex Marquez of the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP during the MotoGP race of the Grand Prix of Catalunya in Montmelo, near Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

DHARAMSALA, India (AP) — Venkatesh Iyer was 73 not out off 40 balls and Virat Kohli hit a 37-ball 58 as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings by 23 runs to advance to the knockout stage of the Indian Premier League on Sunday.

Put into bat, Bengaluru scored an impressive 222-4. In reply, Punjab reached 199-8 in 20 overs with Bhuvneshwar Kumar picking up 2-38 in four overs.

Bengaluru confirmed its spot in the top four with a game to spare – it has 18 points from nine wins in 13 games.

For Punjab, it was a sixth straight loss. It is fourth with 13 points from 13 games. The Kings must now win their final game against already eliminated Lucknow Super Giants but will still depend on other results going their way.

In Sunday’s late game, Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by five wickets.

Left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar bowled opener Jacob Bethell for 11 but Bengaluru went on to score 61-1 in the powerplay.

Kohli hit his fourth half-century of the season off 31 balls. Kohli struck three sixes and four fours overall, putting on 76 runs for the second wicket off 41 balls with Devdutt Padikkal (45), who hit three sixes off 25 balls before he was caught off Brar.

Iyer and Kohli then came together to add 60 off 35, before Kohli was caught off Yuzvendra Chahal in the 15th over.

Bengaluru accelerated despite that loss as Iyer smashed his first 50 of the season, coming off 29 balls. Overall, he hit four sixes and eight fours.

Tim David’s 12-ball 28 included two sixes as Bengaluru eased past 200 with 65 runs off the last five overs.

It was the 53rd 200-plus score in this edition of the IPL, and the most for any season. The previous record was in 2025 with 52 200-plus totals in 74 matches.

In reply, Punjab quickly slipped to 19-3 in 3.2 overs. Kumar struck twice in 11 balls, removing attacking openers Priyansh Arya (0) and Prabhsimran Singh (2).

Rasikh Salam (3-36 in four overs) had skipper Shreyas Iyer caught behind for 1. Punjab only managed 49-3 in the powerplay.

Cooper Connolly (37) and Suryansh Shedge (35) stabilized the innings, and Marcus Stoinis (37) and Shashank Singh put on 67 off 32 deliveries for the sixth wicket.

Josh Hazlewood broke that partnership, trapping Stoinis lbw, after Punjab fought back from 93-5 to 160-6 in 16.1 overs.

Singh (56 off 27) overcame his poor run to score 50 off 22 balls, and Azmatullah Omarzai contributed 14. Both fell in the final over.

Dhruv Jurel (53) and Riyan Parag (51) hit half-centuries in Rajasthan's 193-8 after Delhi won the toss.

Delhi replied with 197-5, winning with four balls to spare. It was Rajasthan’s third straight defeat.

Openers Abishek Porel (51) and Lokesh Rahul (56) led the successful chase with a 105-run opening stand in 10.1 overs, with Axar Patel’s 18-ball 34 not out finishing things off.

Delhi is seventh with 12 points in 13 games. Sixth-place Rajasthan also has 12 points, from 12 games. Both still have a mathematical chance of qualification.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Rajasthan Royals' Dhruv Jurel plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in New Delhi, India, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Delhi Capitals' KL Rahul celebrates his fifty runs during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in New Delhi, India, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Punjab Kings' Shashank Singh, left, and Azmatullah Omarzai during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Venkatesh Iyer plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli reacts after miss field during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli bats during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)