Reigning MotoGP champion Martin will miss Thai GP due to new injury

Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin will sit out this week’s Thailand Grand Prix after suffering a fracture during training, Motorsport.com has learned.

Martin is understood to have broken his left hand on Monday, just days before he was due to take part in the opening round of the season at Buriram. He is now set to undergo an operation on Tuesday.

The Spaniard was already recovering from the injuries he had sustained in a horrific highside on the opening day of pre-season testing at Sepang earlier this month. On that occasion, he had suffered fractures to his right hand and left foot.

After spending 24 hours under observation for a severe blow to the head, Martin travelled to Barcelona, where he underwent surgery by Dr. Xavier Mir on 7 February.

Martin’s entourage had assured Motorsport.com that he was doing well and preparing to travel to Thailand on Tuesday with the aim of passing the medical examination on Thursday and taking part in first practice on Friday.

However, Motorsport.com has now learned that Martin picked up an injury on Monday morning and will need to have an immediate operation done.

With his latest injury, the Spanish rider will not be able to contest the Buriram race. It’s unclear how long it would take for him to complete a full recovery.

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The left-hand fracture completes a fraught winter break for Martin, who had signed a multi-million dollar deal to lead Aprilia’s MotoGP programme after winning the 2024 title with Pramac Ducati.

Martin got his first chance to sample the Aprilia RS-GP in the Barcelona test in November, but he had only completed a dozen laps at Sepang in February when he was violently thrown off the bike at Turn 2.

Aprilia was willing to let Martin treat the first few rounds of the season as an extension of his test programme, but the injury on Monday has dealt another blow to his 2025 campaign.

Aprilia confirmed the news on Monday night, releasing the following statement: "Jorge Martin suffered a complex fracture of the radius, some carpal bones on the left side and an ipsilateral calcaneal fracture of the left hand during a training session.

"After a surgical consultation, it was decided to proceed with surgery, which will take place tomorrow at the Dexeus Clinic in Barcelona to stabilize the fractures of the radius and the left scaphoid.Martin will miss the Thailand Grand Prix and recovery times will be determined after the surgery.

"Lorenzo Savadori will replace Martin in Thailand." The Noale-based brand had previously drafted the 31-year-old in at last week’s Buriram test to accrue valuable mileage with the RS-GP.