Consequences of Jorge Martin’s Sepang crash leave Neil Hodgson feeling ‘robbed’

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Jorge Martin suffered a huge early blow for his defence of the MotoGP riders’ title at the Sepang Test as the new factory Aprilia pilot fractured his right hand and left foot.

Barely any time had passed on Day 1 at the Malaysian Grand Prix circuit before Martin found himself ruled out of action. The 27-year-old had already crashed once on his new Aprilia RS-GP25, before having a sizeable highside into Turn 2 that sent Martin straight to the hospital.

Martin first dropped his bike into Turn 1 after a short, three-lap run to begin the Sepang Test. But his second run would only last one full flying lap before the Spaniard’s new bike snapped violently, with Martin landing on his face. The 2024 champion sat out the rest of pre-season.

Aprilia are yet to know if Martin can pen his race debut for the Italian crew at the Thai Grand Prix. The Madrid native is still recovering from a single fracture to his right hand and multiple left-foot breaks. Martin must pass two fitness tests to race at Buriram in this year’s first race.

Neil Hodgson feels ‘robbed’ with Jorge Martin unable to learn Aprilia’s bike after his Sepang crash

But even if the eight-time premier class Grand Prix winner is passed fit at the Thai GP, Aprilia fear Martin will not be at full fitness until Jerez. There are concerns it could take him until at least the Grand Prix of Spain in round five for Martin to fully overcome the fractures he has.

TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson feels ‘slightly robbed’ due to the consequences of Martin’s crash at the Sepang Test. The 2003 World Superbikes champion thinks the Spaniard lost out on vital running as he adapts to Aprilia’s bike after riding a Ducati GP24 at Pramac last term.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend

Hodgson told Crash: “I feel slightly robbed with what’s happened with Jorge Martin, crashing so early in the pre-season test.

“He’s ended up in a situation with zero data [and] zero experience riding that Aprilia. The only good news is the Aprilia looks good in the hands of Marco Bezzecchi, who’s obviously super-talented, as well.”

Jorge Martin has no guarantees he will like how Marco Bezzecchi has led Aprilia’s bike

Martin having to rely on Bezzecchi is another reason why Hodgson feels ‘sorry’ for the 2024 riders’ champion after his crash at the Sepang Test. There are no guarantees that the Aprilia pair will have the same feelings aboard the RS-GP25 which could put Martin further behind.

Some Aprilia figures feel Martin’s ‘impetuous’ caused his Sepang crash, which left Bezzecchi to lead their development ahead of the Thai GP. The 26-year-old Italian finished Day 3 of the Sepang Test as the fastest Aprilia rider in P9 and again at the close of the Buriram Test in P3.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Marco Bezzecchi from net worth to race number

Hodgson added: “One of the things that I feel sorry for him ever so slightly is because he’s missed all the testing, any development of the new bike will have gone in the direction of the feedback of Bezzecchi.

“Sometimes teammates like a different feel, sometimes they don’t [and] sometimes they like the bike set very similar. I know some teammates I had where we were polar opposite ends of the scale. So, he’s also got that to factor into it.”