Jorge Martin’s journey with Aprilia has not started as planned. The reigning champion faced a big setback on his first day of pre-season testing. After a big crash at Turn 2 in Sepang, he suffered fractures in his hand and foot, forcing him to miss the rest of the pre-season tests.

Aprilia strongly believes that Martin will need the first four races of the season to fully adjust to their new RS-GP 2025 bike. The team has made some improvements since their last test in Barcelona at the end of 2024. Aprilia team manager Paolo Bonora shared his thoughts with MotoGP.com:

“We are waiting for Jorge because we need to give him the best setup for the first race. We hope he will quickly feel comfortable on the bike.”

Bonora also confirmed that Martin’s recovery is going well. “His medical plan is under control, and he is improving every day. We can’t wait to have him back.”

Learning Phase

Bonora admitted that the first races would be a learning experience for Martin since he missed both of the pre-season tests and hasn’t had much time to get used to the Aprilia bike.

“In MotoGP, switching to a new bike takes time. It won’t be easy, but we will give him all the support he needs,” Bonora said.

Aprilia’s Strong Pre-Season Testing

Although Martin wasn’t able to participate, Aprilia still had a productive pre-season testing.

“After Jorge’s injury, we had to change our plans. Luckily, we completed all our tests,” Bonora explained. “Marco did an excellent job setting up his bike, and Lorenzo Savadori’s help was also valuable.”

With Marco Bezzecchi showing good confidence on the bike, the team is optimistic about providing Martin with a competitive bike.

Now, Jorge Martin is set to make his return in the Thailand Grand Prix on February 28, and he will aim to defend his title. While the start was tough, both Aprilia and Martin are determined to make a strong comeback.