Jorge Martin: Withdrawal after FP2, a major blow for Aprilia in the World Championship battle

On Friday morning, Aprilia factory rider Jorge Martin had impressively demonstrated his fighting spirit. With a fracture to his right wrist sustained six days earlier, and without having undergone surgery or wearing a plaster cast or stabilising splint, Martin took to the track for FP1. The runner-up in the World Championship, determined to leave no stone unturned in his bid to improve his position in the MotoGP standings, finished in last place, some 2.5 seconds behind Marc Marquez’s fastest time.

Martin took to the track again for the afternoon’s qualifying session. However, after just three laps and a dramatic rescue manoeuvre at the handlebar ends of the RS-GP, it was decided to sit out the rest of the day. When number 89 was getting ready for the start of FP2 in his leather suit on Saturday morning, the Aprilia fans were still full of hope.

During Q1, Aprilia confirmed: Jorge Martin out!

But the attempt to secure a good starting position in Q1 to limit the damage failed to materialise. After eight laps in FP2 – Martin was once again at the back of the field and 1.5 seconds off the fastest time – the final decision was made. Whilst the riders battled it out in Q1 without Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing confirmed: “Jorge Martin will sit out the remainder of the Malaysian Grand Prix to continue recovering from his injury.”

Aprilia team manager Paolo Bonora added in front of the cameras: “Jorge’s pain was too severe. We decided together that it would be better to work on improving the situation as quickly as possible. Jorge will travel straight back to Spain and do everything he can there to get back on track in Qatar.”

Ein weiteres Duell «Martin gegen Marquez» wird es in Malaysia nicht geben

Foto: Gold and Goose

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Sepang: Qualifying Moto3

MotoGP World Championship

31.10.2026 - 05:40

For Aprilia Racing and Jorge Martin, the withdrawal from the Malaysian GP is a setback – albeit not an unexpected one – in terms of the World Championship standings. Whilst it was clear to everyone involved that Martin would pose no threat to championship leader Marc Marquez at Sepang, a few championship points – and thus some damage control – would certainly have kept the MotoGP title race more alive than it is without the combative Spaniard on the track.

Marc Márquez has one less major problem to contend with at Sepang

By the midway point of the Malaysian Grand Prix, the resistance on the track had to be abandoned. One thing is certain: Jorge Martin will come away empty-handed from Sepang, whilst Marc Marquez has survived another stage as championship leader on his way to the title. Now it is up to ‘MM93’ to make the most of his 10-point lead. With second place on the grid, the Ducati-Lenovo rider secured an almost ideal starting position to take two decisive steps closer to his tenth World Championship title.