Jorge Martin to Miss Thai Grand Prix After Training Injury

Jorge Martin’s absence from the Thailand MotoGP marks the first time a reigning MotoGP champion hasn’t started the following season since 1984.

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Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin will be sidelined for this weekend’s Thai Grand Prix after sustaining a new injury during a training session on Monday, Aprilia Racing has confirmed. The setback adds to a challenging start to the 2025 season for the Spanish rider, who has already faced significant hurdles following a severe crash during pre-season testing.

Martin’s troubles began at the Sepang test earlier this year, where he suffered a heavy crash on the opening day. The incident resulted in multiple fractures, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the pre-season. Aprilia had been hopeful that Martin would recover in time for the season opener in Buriram, Thailand, but those plans were dashed when he fractured his left hand during a training session on Monday, just days before the grand prix.

Aprilia released a statement detailing Martin’s injuries and confirming that test rider Lorenzo Savadori will replace him for the Thai Grand Prix. “Jorge Martin suffered a complex fracture of the radius, some carpal bones on the left side, and an ipsilateral calcaneal fracture 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 stabilise 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,” the statement read. 

Martin’s absence marks the first time since Freddie Spencer in 1984 that a reigning MotoGP world champion has not started the following season. The Spaniard made history in 2024 by becoming the first rider from an independent team in the modern era to win the world title. His championship victory earned him a factory seat with Aprilia for the 2025 season, where he was set to run the prestigious number one plate on his RS-GP.

However, Martin’s transition to Aprilia has been far from smooth. He has completed just 90 laps on the RS-GP this winter, most of which came during the post-season test in Barcelona last November. Even before this latest injury, Martin had tempered expectations for the 2025 season, acknowledging that adapting to the new bike would take time and ruling out an immediate championship challenge.

Martin’s move to Aprilia came after a dramatic turn of events in the rider market. Ducati had initially offered him a factory seat for 2025, but the team reversed its decision after Marc Marquez publicly refused to take a works bike at Pramac. This prompted Martin to sign a two-year factory deal with Aprilia, where he was expected to lead the team’s championship ambitions.

With Martin sidelined, Lorenzo Savadori will step in for the Thai Grand Prix. Savadori, Aprilia’s test rider, brings valuable experience and will aim to deliver a strong performance in Buriram. Meanwhile, Martin’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, leaving Aprilia