Aprilia have let themselves down by making one desperate move to secure Jorge Martin test

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Aprilia are pushing to get Jorge Martin a private test on his 2025 MotoGP challenger before his return to proper racing.

The defending champion missed all of pre-season after suffering hand and foot fractures from a violent highside in Sepang. Martin was flown back to Europe to undergo surgery.

During his recovery, the Spaniard suffered more complicated fractures after a crash in training. Doctors noticed a ‘troublesome issue’ as Martin broke the scaphoid in his left hand, which can take a long time to heel having limited blood flow.

Martin has missed the season opener in Thailand and the Argentina Grand Prix. In Termas, he confirmed he will not return for the next round in Austin as he eyes a comeback to MotoGP in Qatar.

Aprilia are pushing to get Martin a test on his RS-GP25 ahead of his return. Under the concession system, the Scorze-based outfit can only run their test riders in private outings.

Aprilia are hopeful they can get the rules changed and give the 27-year-old vital mileage on his 2025 bike. However, they made one desperate mistake trying to push for the decision.

Aprilia made a desperate mistake going to the media before the Grand Prix commission about their push to get Jorge Martin test

Ducati boss Davide Tardozzi will not support Aprilia’s proposal. He says it is not fair to make amendments to the rules mid-season, especially one that would aid one of his team’s biggest competitors.

Aprilia will likely argue it will benefit all of the manufacturers. Fabio Di Giannantonio – Ducati’s third factory rider alongside Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia – also missed most of pre-season with a dislocated shoulder sustained in Sepang.

However, rather than go straight to Dorna or the Grand Prix commission, Aprilia went to the media first to detail their plans. Discussing matters internally would have allowed for debate among the manufacturers and maybe a solution – publicly discussing it was a sign of desperation to get Martin on the track.

Journalist Oriol Puigdemont holds the same view as Tardozzi. Speaking on Tank Slappers, he said Aprilia’s move was ‘desperate’ after trying to ‘force’ it on the paddock by going through the media.

“I’m pretty much aligned with what most of the paddock said and with what Tardozzi said and also Marc Marquez said. It might be a really great idea, but I mean we’ve had these examples in the past.

“Enea Bastianini, it happened to him. So, I understand Aprilia’s frustration but in my opinion, what surprised me the most was the way of presenting it before talking to Dorna and talking to the media than talking inside the MSMA, which is the way to present any proposals.

“So, all the manufacturers can discuss. You go to the Grand Prix commission and then you can change the regulation or add something on the regulation.

“I understand Aprilia’s frustration but it sounds a bit desperate to try to force than push it right now.”

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

Can Jorge Martin be competitive when he returns to MotoGP?

Martin may have a ‘get out of jail free card’ in 2025. His injuries are expected to affect him all season and the fact that he is set to miss at least three races damages his title chances.

The Spaniard did not think the championship was possible with Aprilia anyway. Martin is targeting 2026 as a title challenge before the regulation change of 2027.

The 27-year-old can take confidence from Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura and his impressive performances so far. The Japanese rider has taken to MotoGP seamlessly, challenging Bagnaia for a podium in Thailand.

But Martin may hate watching Ogura as it is a glimpse of what he could have achieved had he been fit from the start. If Aprilia’s test proposal is unsuccessful, he will be playing catch-up for much of the season.