MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin hospitalised as Aprilia ace suffers horror testing crash
Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin has seen his pre-season testing campaign end after just 13 laps following a horror crash.
The Spaniard, who narrowly beat factory Ducati ace Pecco Bagnaia to the biggest crown in two-wheeled motorsport before being overlooked for a place on the the team in favour of eight time world champion Marc Marquez, suffered a huge highside just 13 laps into his first test of the year as an Aprilia rider - breaking bones in both his hand and foot.
A statement from MotoGP organisers Dorna said: "In a shock start to his title defence, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) has been officially ruled out of the Sepang Test. The reigning Champion suffered two crashes on Wednesday (February 5) and the second was a sizeable highside. Medical checks have diagnosed him with a right hand fracture and fractures in his left foot, which rules him out of any more testing duties in Malaysia. He has also undergone a CT scan and MRI, and both those were negative for any head injuries. Now, he’ll head back home to Spain for surgery on his hand and foot, scheduled for later this week."
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It means that the 27-year-old will definitely miss the remainder of the Malaysia test, with any participation in the Thai test on February 12 and 13 also looking in doubt. And he could be joined on the sidelines by two other riders who also both suffered nasty injuries on their first day back for the new year.
This was @88jorgemartin's awful highside in his first hours with the number 1 plate
He's at the hospital undergoing tests due to left foot and right hand pain. Updates will follow and in the meantime, we're sending our best wishes to the World Champ #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/2UQtHKOq1w— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) February 5, 2025
VR46 Ducati's Fabio Di Giannantonio had the worst possible return from a shoulder injury that had ruled him out of the final two rounds of last season, as he suffered a fracture collarbone with a wheelie that went wrong on landing. Martin's fellow Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez meanwhile has also been ruled out of the remainder of the test, with the Trackhouse rider writing-off his new bike and suffering fractured metacarpal in his left hand and a fractured little toe in his left foot.
2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo topped the times at the end of the first day, in a welcome boost for Yamaha after a horrendous 2024 campaign. Ducati Lenovo new boy Marc Marquez was second, whilst teammate Pecco Bagnaia was down in 17th. Joan Mir was top Honda in sixth with Pedro Acosta the leading KTM in 12th.
