MotoGP champion Jorge Martin had a rough start to pre-season testing in Malaysia. On the first day at the Sepang circuit, the reigning champion crashed at Turn 2, breaking his right hand and left foot. The incident sparked a debate about what could have caused the crash, with Aprilia questioning the role of Michelin, the official tyre supplier.

The Crash and Its Consequences

Martin was on an early flying lap when he was thrown off his Aprilia at high speed, something called a highside crash. He landed face-first, suffering multiple fractures, and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital. Later, he flew to Barcelona for surgery under Dr. Xavier Mir. Due to his injuries, Martin is expected to miss upcoming tests in Thailand and might not return until the first race in March.

Was the Tyre to Blame?

Aprilia initially suggested that the rear tyre might have been the issue, questioning its storage and history. Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola said, "The data shows that the bike had no problem, and Jorge did not make any mistakes. I have asked Michelin for the history of the tyre. I wouldn’t like to know it had been stored for 11 months."

In response, Michelin’s MotoGP chief, Piero Taramasso, clarified that the tyre was manufactured in June 2024 and had been kept in a temperature-controlled container. He denied any possible quality issues, stating that the tyre was not old or improperly stored.

The Real Cause

Taramasso later provided further details after reviewing data from Martin's bike. According to a special sensor inside the tyre, the inner temperature dropped by 15°C below the normal range of 90–100°C. While the outer surface temperature seemed fine, the cold inner layer likely caused the tyre to lose grip unexpectedly.

He suggested possible reasons for the temperature drop:

• Cooler-than-usual weather conditions
• The bike had just returned from an earlier crash
• Potential issues with the tyre warmers

Taramasso admitted that further investigation was needed but maintained that Michelin was not at fault.

Martin’s Recovery

After a night in the hospital in Malaysia, Martin flew back to Europe for surgery on his right hand’s fractured little finger. His left foot, which suffered three fractures, will require a longer recovery process. Doctors will assess his condition after surgery to determine when he can return to racing.

With his injuries, Martin is unlikely to take part in the upcoming tests as well as the MotoGP season launch in Bangkok. If he misses the rest of pre-season testing, he will enter the first race in March with limited time on his Aprilia.

As the season slowly approaches, all eyes will be on Martin’s recovery and whether he can return in time to defend his championship title.