Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin missed the opening race of the season in Thailand. Two serious crashes in the space of a month ruled him out at the start of his title defence.
Martin sustained fractures in his right hand and left foot after a highside just 13 laps into day one of the Sepang Test. He then returned to Europe for an operation.
Aprilia ruled the Spaniard out of the last five days of testing in the hope that he could return for the race in Buriram. But while trying to gauge his strength on a supermoto bike, he injured himself again.
This time, Martin’s injury is ‘particularly troublesome’, with the scaphoid bone requiring surgical repair. A rushed return could lead to lasting damage.
Martin may need three months to heal, according to experts. But the expectation is that he’ll try and return earlier than that, provided he receives medical clearance.
Massimo Rivola has turned to Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori in his absence. The 31-year-old was the last classified finisher in Thailand as he crossed the line 20th.
Dr Angel Charte tells Jorge Martin he’s not racing in the Argentina Grand Prix
Motorsport Espana contacted Dr Angel Charte, MotoGP’s medical director, for an update on Martin’s condition. Charte will pay him a personal visit on 24 March.
He’s already instructed Martin to stay home and recuperate rather than trying to attend the Argentina Grand Prix at the end of next week. The next target is round three in Austin on 30 March.
The 27-year-old will only receive permission if the scaphoid bone is ‘consolidated’. Martin had already ruled out a 2025 title but the lost points will be painful nonetheless.
“We are dealing with an injury that in a normal person requires three months of rehabilitation,” Charte explained. “The fracture of the scaphoid needs time, in a very delicate bone that can leave permanent after-effects.
“We spoke with Jorge and told him that he was not going to go to Argentina, and that we will evaluate the possibilities of being in Austin a few days before the Grand Prix. But if the bone is not consolidated, he will not be able to travel.”
Neil Hodgson suspects Jorge Martin could barely watch one Aprilia rider in Thailand
It’s important to stress that Martin remains a doubt for the Grand Prix of the Americas. ‘Nobody’ in the paddock knows whether he’ll make it, according to Mat Oxley.
Neil Hodgson has warned Martin to be patient, citing his own struggles with his scaphoid. He had to undergo two further operations after trying to come back too quickly, a ‘nightmare’ scenario.
The good news for the eight-time race-winner is that Aprilia have built a competitive motorcycle. Ai Ogura demonstrated as much by finishing an excellent P5 for Trackhouse in Thailand.
But Hodgson suspects Martin will have hated watching Ogura. If a debutant can finish in the top five, then perhaps he missed a shot to contend for victory, though Marc Marquez did look largely untouchable.
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