Jorge Martín, the reigning MotoGP world champion, faces another significant setback as he suffered fractures to his left hand during training on Monday. This unfortunate incident has confirmed his absence from the upcoming Grand Prix of Thailand, scheduled from February 28 to March 2, 2025.
The accident occurred at the Menàrguens kart circuit, located just 130 kilometers from Andorra. Martín, who was training on a supermotard bike, reportedly fractured three bones in his left hand: the distal radius, the scaphoid, and the pyramidal bone. Alongside this, he also sustained a non-displaced fracture of the calcaneus bone on his left foot, which fortunately will not require surgical intervention.
This latest injury adds to Martín's woes, as he was recently recuperated from significant injuries sustained during pre-season tests at the Sepang circuit. Back on February 7, he underwent surgery for fractures to his right hand and left foot following another fall, only to be hit with this stroke of bad luck just days before the MotoGP season opener.
Following the accident, Martín expressed his frustration over the constant injuries, which have deprived him of valuable time riding and preparing on the bike. "Tuve un buen impacto, estuve con bastante dolor, pero el viaje y todo ha ido bien," Martín reported after his first surgery, indicating the difficulty he faced during recovery.
The recent struggles mean Martín will miss the opening GP, leaving Aprilia Racing to confirm Lorenzo Savadori as his replacement for the Thai race. Massimo Rivola, the General Director of Aprilia Racing, made it clear they are committed to supporting Savadori, stating, "Estamos orgullosos de confirmar que Aprilia Racing seguirá trabajando con Lorenzo Savadori, uno de los pilares de nuestro proyecto..." reflecting the team’s reliance on Savadori's experience.
The timing could not be worse for Martín. His absence from Thailand may extend beyond this opening round, as he is currently scheduled for surgery to repair the fractures this Tuesday. He aims to recover swiftly enough to make it to the second race of the year, the Grand Prix of Argentina, which takes place on March 16, 2025.
Martín’s injuries have created immediate challenges as he continues to adjust to the Aprilia bike. Having only completed limited laps before these setbacks, he now faces significant hurdles both physically and competitively. Reports indicate he struggled to adjust to the new bike, having logged merely 77 laps during post-season tests last November and just another 14 laps during the tests at Sepang.
The MotoGP season is poised to be tough for Martín, especially with the fierce competition from teams such as Ducati and established riders like Marc Márquez and Pecco Bagnaia. Whether or not he can return to form quickly after these injuries remains uncertain, and fans are left to wonder when they will see their champion back on track, potentially watching the season’s start from the sidelines.
MotoGP begins with high expectations, but with injuries curtailing his preparation and participation, Jorge Martín’s title defense looks increasingly formidable. His focus now is on recovery and hopefully regaining the momentum required to contend for another championship.