Francesco Bagnaia issues ‘insane’ verdict on Jorge Martin’s MotoGP testing crash

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Jorge Martin is out of MotoGP’s Sepang test after a huge crash on the opening day. Martin only completed 14 laps before the violent highside on the exit of turn two.

Martin lost control of his Aprilia bike and vaulted over the front end. His visor cracked as he hit the floor, but his main complaints concerned his right hand and left foot.

After initially visiting the medical centre, Martin went to a local hospital for further examinations. There, it was determined that he’d sustained fractures in the aforementioned areas.

Naturally, Martin won’t be able to take any further part in Sepang, with two more days of running scheduled. His participation in the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix is now in doubt.

There is a two-day test scheduled for Buriram on 12 and 13 February. While the recovery timeline is unknown at this stage, this accident could clearly have major ramifications for his first season at Aprilia.

Martin’s move to Noale from the Ducati-aligned Pramac squad was one of the biggest stories of the off-season. But the initial excitement has now been shattered.

Francesco Bagnaia reacts to Jorge Martin’s crash on day one of MotoGP testing

Martin prevailed in a season-long title battle with Ducati factory rider Francesco Bagnaia in 2024. Speaking after a comparatively smooth day of testing, the Italian offered his best wishes.

Bagnaia acknowledged the severity of the incident and called Martin ‘unlucky’. But he also questioned Aprilia’s run plan.

He feels that the team took an unnecessary risk by sending their new rider out on an ‘un-grippy’ tyre. Perhaps they should have adopted a more cautious approach at the start of testing.

“I really hope that he doesn’t feel any pain, because the crash was insane,” Bagnaia told MotoGP’s official website. “Honestly, today was a day to sacrifice a bit.

“Riding with the wrong tyre was really not the best, because the other spec was un-grippy. That was an unlucky situation. It was a huge crash. I don’t know if he’s feeling well, but I hope so.”

Did MotoGP rule contribute to Jorge Martin’s Sepang crash?

Martin’s Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi will now take on greater responsibility on the other side of the garage. With Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez also ruled out through injury, he may need to step up his data-gathering.

Bezzecchi is ramping up slowly, having set the 18th-fastest time on Wednesday. He completed 68 laps overall, the second-highest tally behind Somkiat Chantra (70).

Speaking during his lunchtime debrief, Bezzecchi questioned the tyre allocation for the test. He says the soft was only the compound that provided any grip at the rear, but too few were provided.

If that’s the case, then perhaps mistakes and crashes were always likely.