Jorge Martin will not participate in the Thailand Grand Prix after he suffered an injury during his recent training, as confirmed by Aprilia Racing.

Martin, who recently joined Aprilia, was preparing for the race when he fractured his left hand in a training accident on Monday. This news comes after he had already missed most of the pre-season testing due to a crash on the first day of testing.

Martin will undergo surgery on his left hand on Tuesday in Barcelona. The doctors will determine how long he needs to recover after the procedure.

Difficult Start to the Season

Martin’s season started with setbacks. During the Sepang test in Malaysia, he crashed on the first day and suffered multiple fractures. This injury forced him to miss the rest of the pre-season while he recovered from surgery.

Aprilia had hoped that he would be ready for the season opener. However, his latest injury has ruled him out of the race, and it is unclear when he will return.

Replacement

Aprilia has announced that test rider Lorenzo Savadori will take Martin’s place at the Thailand Grand Prix.

The statement from the team explained Martin’s injuries: he had suffered fractures in his left radius and some carpal bones. After consulting with doctors, the decision was made to proceed with surgery to stabilize his fractures.

Martin’s absence marks a historic moment in MotoGP, as it will be the first time a reigning champion will miss the start of the season since Freddie Spencer in 1984.

Last year, Martin made history as the first independent team rider to win a title. Before his latest injury, Martin had already admitted that he wasn’t expecting to defend his title in 2025, as he needs more time to adjust to the Aprilia bike.