Two recent surgeries could force Martin to miss Sepang MotoGP test

Jorge Martin had to undergo two surgeries in recent weeks to recover from the injuries he suffered last year and is almost certainly not expected to take part in the first MotoGP preseason test, Motorsport.com has learned.

Martin has had to go under the knife twice in recent weeks: the first surgery was to correct the injury to the scaphoid bone in his left hand, which he damaged in February of last year; the second was to repair his right collarbone, fractured on 27 September at the start of the sprint race at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Martin had already undergone surgery for both injuries last year, but the recovery was not progressing with sufficient consistency. Despite the 2024 champion getting back on the bike after both injuries, supposedly fully recovered, he did not feel physically at one hundred percent.

As a result, the Aprilia rider opted to undergo further medical tests, which proved decisive in the decision to correct both procedures.

Over the past month, he has combined physical recovery with gym work, but he has not ridden a motorcycle since the Valencia test last November.

Serious doubt for Sepang

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

While awaiting any update from Aprilia regarding this entire process, something the manufacturer did not disclose at last week’s launch, Motorsport.com understands that Martín is recovering satisfactorily, but will not take part in the first official pre-season test, which will take place place in Sepang from 3-5 February.

That does not mean Martin will be unable to travel to Malaysia and be with the team to follow the development of the RS-GP26 from the garage and take part in the MotoGP season launch event in Kuala Lumpur on 6-7 February, a celebration he missed last year due to injury.

Lorenzo Savadori, the Noale-based manufacturer’s test and development rider, will be tasked with replacing the Spaniard at Sepang, as he already did last year, when he stood in at as many as thirteen grands prix.

Martin is now hoping to be able to get back on the Aprilia fully recovered for the second pre-season test on 21-22 February in Buriram, where the season will begin on 1 March with the Thai Grand Prix.

Last year, his first with Aprilia, Martín got injured on the opening day of the Sepang test and missed the remainder of the pre-season. He underwent surgery as many as four times during the year and was only able to finish four of the 22 races held, due to the multiple injuries that plagued him throughout the season.