Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin’s latest MotoGP absence has begun at the Grand Prix of Spain. He’d already picked up two injuries before his frightening Qatar accident.
Martin was a spectator for most of pre-season testing after a violent highside on the very first morning. He hoped to return for the opener in Thailand but sustained new fractures in a supermoto crash.
That ruled the MotoGP world champion out of the first three rounds, but even though he wasn’t granted a preparatory test, he was immediately on the pace in Lusail. Even his fall at turn 12 during the race was fairly innocuous.
The problem was that VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio was right behind the Aprilia, and he couldn’t avoid hitting him as he slipped from the saddle. Martin was left with 11 broken/fractured ribs and a collapsed lung.
Massimo Rivola will have an ‘idea’ of Martin’s return date after he receives checks in his homeland. The 27-year-old has finally had medical clearance to fly back from Qatar after waiting nearly a fortnight.
Neil Hodgson predicts two-month absence for Jorge Martin and explains why he was ‘lucky’
Speaking on TNT Sports’ coverage of FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix, Neil Hodgson explained that Martin was ‘lucky’ in a sense. The rib injuries will leave him in intense pain, but he was at least discharged after a week.
Di Giannantonio was traumatised after the incident and went straight to the Aprilia garage after the chequered flag to check on his condition. He’d seen him receiving treatment by the side of the track under yellow-flag conditions.
During his career, former Superbike racer Hodgson suffered similar injuries. He’s confident Martin can return within two months, rather than the initial estimate of three.
A two-month layoff from 13 April (the date of the Qatar GP) would open up a potential return in Italy on 22 June. Martin could feasibly take part in four races before the summer break if Hodgson’s theory is correct.
“He was so unlucky that Fabio di Giannantonio was right behind him and just clipped him,” he said. “He actually was, believe it or not, quite lucky. If he’d have hit him in another part of his body, it could have been a lot worse.
“It’s a horrible injury to have. He’ll be out for at least… I can’t see it being three months, when I did mine it wasn’t three months. It was more like two.”
Aprilia have overlooked an obvious solution to Jorge Martin injury at Spanish Grand Prix
Lorenzo Savadori replaces Martin at Aprilia once again for this weekend’s race. He only managed to score one point in the first three rounds and largely lapped at the back of the field.
It could be argued that Aprilia should have promoted Ai Ogura to the official team, and deployed Savadori at Trackhouse, during Martin’s convalescence. Ogura is riding a current-spec bike but could have boosted the manufacturer’s points tally with full factory backing.
Hodgson is optimistic that Martin could be back within four races, but Aprilia need to exercise caution.
Indeed, Marc Marquez has urged Martin not to be rash, having been through a multi-year injury nightmare at Honda. Waiting for a full recovery post-summer break may be the most sensible move, but the champion will of course be desperate to return.
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