Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin has undergone surgery once again after a crash in a private training session. The MotoGP world champion is out of the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix.
Martin was fighting to make it back for the race in Buriram following an accident on the first day of the Sepang Test. He sustained fractures in his right hand and left foot, forcing him to fly back to Europe for a procedure.
Aprilia ruled him out of the remaining four days of testing so he could focus on his recovery. But in trying to build his sharpness for this weekend’s race, he fell again.
Clinicians have suggested Martin may need three months to heal after his latest setback. But MotoGP riders typically defy such timelines.
All that’s known at this stage is that he’ll miss round one. He’s also considered a doubt for the race in Argentina two weeks later.
Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori will replace Martin for as long as is necessary. Marco Bezzecchi, a winter signing from VR46, is at least fully prepared on the other side of the garage.
Jorge Martin wanted to ‘prove himself’ before crash that ruled him out of Thailand Grand Prix
There were initially some questions as how to Martin had fallen. But a report from Motorsport Espana has now revealed details of the crash.
The 27-year-old was ‘testing his strength’ level on a motocross bike at a karting circuit near the Spanish city of Lleida. He started with an outing where he wasn’t chasing lap times.
However, the next time Martin went out on track, he ‘wanted to prove himself’. In his efforts to post a quick lap, he ‘suffered an unfortunate fall’.
Aprilia were fully aware of his plans, but they not be happy with the manner of the accident. Racers are always desperate to push, but once he’d established his strength levels post-injury, there was surely little need to take risks.
Keith Huewen suspects Aprilia will be fuming about one thing after Jorge Martin news
This time, Martin fractured bones in his left hand and caused further damage to his left foot. Massimo Rivola and co. must be frustrated.
Keith Huewen suspects Aprilia may direct their anger at Michelin, MotoGP’s tyre suppliers. They were at loggerheads over Martin’s Sepang highside.
Michelin reported that the internal temperature of the tyre was well below the normal operating window, which may have contributed to the crash. Aprilia rejected that explanation.
Doctors have found that Martin has broken one ‘particularly troublesome’ bone. Even when he does return, he’ll need time to reach peak physical condition and feel comfortable on the bike.
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