MotoGP champion Martin out of Sepang test after multiple fractures

A disastrous start to Martin’s title defence as he gets injured on first day of testing

Jorge Martin will miss the remainder of the Sepang MotoGP test after suffering multiple fractures in a crash on the opening day of the running.

The reigning MotoGP champion was making only his second appearance aboard the factory Aprilia RS-GP when he suffered a highside at Turn 2 shortly before midday in Malaysia.

Martin was violently thrown off the bike and landed head first on the ground, with the red flag being immediately deployed at the scene of the crash.

The Spaniard remained conscious throughout and was taken to the circuit’s medical centre for check-ups before being transported to the Aurelius hospital in Nilai, close to the Sepang International Circuit.

After he underwent tests, it was discovered that Martin has a single fracture on his right hand and multiple fractures on his left foot.

The Aprilia rider will now skip the last two days of the test to return to Europe and undergo surgery on his broken hand and foot.

“Jorge Martin suffered a closed fracture of the 5th metacarpal head of the right hand and a closed fracture of the 3rd, 4th and 5th metatarsals of the left foot,” read a statement from Aprilia.

“He has undergone a CT scan and MRI, both of which were negative for any [other] injuries.

“He will stay in hospital overnight and tomorrow he will fly back to Europe to undergo surgery on both his right hand and left foot.”

Aprilia ruled out bike problems and rider error as the cause of the incident that could force Martin to miss the entire pre-season, including the next test at Buriram on 12-13 February.

“The crash [happened] for apparently no reason, with no mistake on this side and no mistake on the bike's side,” said Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola. “The tyres were in the right temperature and right pressure. We have no explanation.

“I just asked to know the history of the tyre [from Michelin].”

The injuries were sustained in Martin’s second crash of the day, with the 27-year-old having already had an incident at Turn 1 at the start of the running. However, on that occasion, he was able to return to the pits and hop on his second bike.

He now becomes the second rider from the Aprilia contingent to withdraw from the Sepang test due to injuries.

Earlier, it was announced that Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez would return from Malaysia early after a crash of his own on Wednesday morning.

He was diagnosed with “a fractured metacarpal bone in his left hand” and will undergo surgery in Barcelona.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio will also require an operation after fracturing the same left shoulder he had previously broken in practice for the Austrian GP in August.

It means three of the 22 full-season riders will sit out the last two days of the Sepang test.

“Fabio Di Giannantonio has been diagnosed with a left collarbone fracture following his Turn 5 crash at Sepang Test,” his team said in a statement.

“The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team rider will fly back tonight to Italy to undergo surgery.”