Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin has been ruled out for the remainder of MotoGP’s pre-season test at Sepang following a scary accident.
The Spaniard suffered a highside just hours into his first official run with new team Aprilia in tough, sticky conditions.
Martin, who is the reigning champion, moved from Pramac to Aprilia in the off-season after he missed out on a ride with Ducati’s factory team for 2025.
His team are yet to confirm who will replace him for the remainder of the MotoGP pre-season test, although test rider Lorenzo Savadori seems the obvious call.
Marco Bezzecchi offered a very confused reaction to Martin’s crash and wasn’t sure how he managed to dismount his machine.
With just three weeks to go before the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix, there can be no guarantees of the 27-year-old’s participation in the first race.
Marc Marquez sends a ‘big hug’ to Jorge Martin with emotional message after Sepang crash
Luigi Dall’Igna saw something amazing in Marc Marquez’s data before snubbing Martin for a ride with Ducati this season – a move which would’ve seem him go head-to-head with his main rival Francesco Bagnaia.
Marquez spent one year with the Gresini team on a one-year-old GP23 bike, winning three races on his way to third in the riders’ championship. It was enough to convince the Italian manufacturer that a promotion was deserved.
READ MORE: Marco Melandri has ‘heard’ what Ducati told Jorge Martin before signing Marc Marquez for 2025
Martin’s job of defending his title is virtually impossible, as he joins a team that won just one race during the 2024 season.
Despite being strong rivals, Marquez has sent his best wishes to Martin following his Sepang accident which could see him ruled out for an extended period.
“First of all, I heard that you were talking about Martin and we wish him to the champion a great recovery. I don’t know the value of the fractures or the injuries,” he told MotoGP’s After the Flag. “A big hug to him.”
Aprilia manager shares why he will ‘never forget’ Jorge Martin’s first test
Martin’s original Aprilia debut came just a matter of days after the end of the 2024 season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Riding at his home circuit, not long after securing a maiden MotoGP title at the track, all eyes were on him as he stepped onto a new bike.
Aprilia manager Peter Bonora says he will ‘never forget’ Martin’s first test after he managed to reduce his new garage to silence following his first run.
READ MORE: Francesco Bagnaia issues ‘insane’ verdict on Jorge Martin’s MotoGP testing crash
Martin is already pleased Aprilia has a better front end than Ducati, but he’s now going to miss out on some crucial running before making his official race debut for the team.
Missing two days on his new bike, and the information and development feedback that comes with the time he would’ve spent running could have a big effect on his team’s ability to perform during the early stages of the season. It’s a real dent to their hopes.
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