It’s looking increasingly likely that the number one plate will finally return to MotoGP action at next weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, after Jorge Martin got positive news from his doctors in his bid to return to action after missing out on the opening three rounds of the 2025 season.
The reigning world champion first crashed during testing at Sepang in early February, breaking bones in his hand and foot that kept him out of the remainder of the pre-season. But the real damage came as he rode a supermoto bike as part of his rehabilitation, high-siding himself and breaking (among other things) the notoriously slow to heal scaphoid bone in his wrist.
Martin attended last weekend’s Grand Prix of the Americas in order to get to know his new Aprilia team better after his off-season switch from satellite Ducati squad Pramac, having missed out on so much time working with his new colleagues so far.
He was quietly optimistic when he spoke to the media about his chances of being able to finally race the RS-GP in anger at the Lusail circuit.
"I don't know,” he admitted, “maybe I go there, I ride [in first practice] and I cannot continue - or maybe yes [I can]. I don't know how my condition will be, for sure I won't be at 100% but I will maybe try.
“I’m still struggling a lot, not to move but I cannot put any weight [on the hand].
“It wasn’t just the scaphoid but also the head of the radius that was broken in three pieces. I don’t know which was worse, but both are really important to put weight on the hand.
“I think it’s one of the worst injuries for a rider, to have both of those two bones [broken].
“It’s healing well, healing fast. Normally it can be a problem, so I’m pleased with the progress.”
That prognosis now seems to have been upgraded somewhat following the latest evaluation from his doctors, with positive news from the surgery he underwent to have screws installed in the bone.
“Jorge Martin underwent an X-ray follow-up yesterday,” his team announced on Wednesday. “The evaluation is positive as a bone callus is clearly visible at the level of the scaphoid fracture.
“The synthesis screw is well positioned and tolerated, confirming the expected and correct outcome of the surgery.”
Even if Martin is able to ride for the full Qatar weekend, he faces significant acclimatisation challenges having only just got on his 2025 bike when he had his testing crash - and now facing rivals with not only full winters but three complete race weekends behind them.
Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori has deputised for Martin but has been battling an injury of his own for the past two events.
In Martin’s absence, Aprilia is only fourth in the manufacturers’ championship with its works team down in eighth in the teams’ standings. Fellow Aprilia newcomer Marco Bezzecchi on the other factory bike has yet to translate his promising test form into results, largely because of poor qualifying performances.
