Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has won seven of the opening eight races of the 2025 MotoGP season and may have been expecting more of a challenge from his rivals.
The six-time champion has been dominant on his Ducati bike. A streak which continued at the Grand Prix of Qatar with another pole and double victory.
One of his rivals wasn’t quite as fortunate. Fellow countryman Jorge Martin suffered a nightmare MotoGP return in Lusail.
With just eight laps to go, the 27-year-old fell off his Aprilia bike before being struck by Fabio Di Giannantonio after hitting the ground. The result was a collapsed lung and 11 rib fractures.
MotoGP fans were furious with the FIM and couldn’t understand why a red flag wasn’t thrown to help give the reigning champion his treatment safely in the run-off area.
Before the race, Martin had already been ‘tired’ of an Aprilia problem and was struggling with the seating position on his new bike.
READ MORE: ‘Nobody’ would have predicted what Jorge Martin just did at the Qatar Grand Prix, ‘so impressive’
Marc Marquez sends rallying two-word message to Jorge Martin ahead of MotoGP recovery
Martin’s accident was a scary one, which left him in immediate and visible pain at the side of the track. Having rolled over the kerbs at high speed, it was an impactful tumble.
The last thing the reigning champion needed upon his return to the sport was another injury. Martin knew he would get injured again if he pushed too hard. The result was painful.
Championship leader and rival Marquez has sent him a message after he made a post on Instagram while in hospital recovering from the incident.
“Fuerza Jorge,” said Marquez, which translates to ‘strength Jorge’.
It’s unknown how long it will take Martin to recover from his latest setback, but it ensures that he will struggle to return to 100% before the end of the season.
He needs a winter to recover and rest properly, but his body isn’t going to get it. His determination to return may not be as high as it was before this time.
READ MORE: Ducati CEO makes bold prediction about ‘extraordinary’ Jorge Martin before Qatar Grand Prix return
What are Aprilia going to do for the rest of the 2025 MotoGP season?
While having test rider Lorenzo Savadori take Martin’s spot on the factory bike was ideal for a few rounds, having him stay for an extended period may not make too much sense.
His performance has a clear ceiling and they’re wasting an opportunity to score good points at almost every event with the Italian in the garage.
It also applies further pressure to Marco Bezzecchi on the other bike, who is aware that he has to perform or his team could leave every race empty-handed.
There may be a rider ready to come out of retirement, or someone else eager for an opportunity to impress again. Either way, Martin probably won’t be competing in his home race at Jerez in two weeks.
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