Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin is gearing up for his MotoGP return at the Grand Prix of Qatar just over two months on from his scary accident during pre-season testing.
The reigning champion has experienced a frustrating road to recovery so far, with complications and slow healing while his Aprilia team have struggled to produce on track.
With just a handful of laps under his belt, Martin must now adapt quickly to his new bike and lead the Italian manufacturer’s development for the rest of the season.
Whatever he chooses to do with the bike will have a major effect on the 2026 MotoGP season too – there are long-term implications at play here.
Martin said something alarming about his injuries and admitted that he is unsure how his rib will influence how he rides upon his return. Much of the focus has been on his hands and feet.
Randy Mamola expects that Martin has learned from Marc Marquez and his monster 2020 crash which nearly ruined his career. At the age of 27, he still has plenty of racing ahead of him.
READ MORE: Kevin Schwantz explains why Jorge Martin may not be ‘back up to speed’ before MotoGP’s summer break
Jorge Martin could face MotoGP ‘pain’ for extended period like Marc Marquez
After originally targeting the season-opener for a possible return, Martin will finally get his chance to get back on a bike at the Grand Prix of Qatar.
Dr Juan Carlos Marquez believes that much like Marc Marquez had to deal with after his major accident in 2020, Martin could face longer-term pain.
“So all of these are complex injuries that, evidently, he is an elite athlete who wants to recover as soon as possible to return to competition,” he said.
“It is a physically demanding competition that requires mobility in the wrist as well for use of the handlebars, to be able to correctly open the fingers, squeeze, close, that is, to have strength. Apart from that, to be able to withstand those vibrations.
“Because when you fracture any bone, the bone pain, the pain of having had a fracture sometimes lasts to a year.”
Why it may take extra time for Jorge Martin to get up to speed during the 2025 MotoGP season
It’s important to remember that the reigning champion is returning to the sport on a bike which he has only completed a handful of laps on.
Within that time, he was thrown from it twice. He needs to rebuild his confidence and adjust to the demands of an Aprilia compared to a Ducati.
Martin had major ‘doubts’ about his MotoGP return and questioned whether he could get back to the level he was at last year.
His old Pramac team have already changed bike too and are with Yamaha now. They’re not as competitive as they have been over the last few years.
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