Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin will officially miss the upcoming Buriram pre-season test, Aprilia confirmed today. This decision follows the Spaniard’s harrowing crashes at the Sepang circuit, where he managed just 13 laps before sustaining significant injuries.
Martin endured two violent highsides at Turns 1 and 2 in the opening hours of the Malaysian test. The second crash sent him somersaulting through the air, resulting in fractures to his right hand and left foot.
The incident has sparked a public disagreement between Aprilia and Michelin over the potential cause. Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola suggested the crashes may have been due to a tyre issue, stating:
“A bad crash for apparently no reason, with no mistake on bike side and no mistake on his side.”
Rivola further explained that both crashes occurred with the same set of tyres, saying:
“The first was on the right, and the second was on the left… The tyre temperature was normal. I’ll leave it to you to get more info.”
Martin’s absence from the Buriram test means he will head into the season opener at Buriram with minimal pre-season preparation. The defending champion faces a tough challenge to regain full fitness and sharpness before the first race.
As the MotoGP paddock moves to Thailand, Aprilia will have to recalibrate its testing strategy without Martin. The team will rely heavily on data gathered by its other riders as they aim to start the 2025 campaign competitively.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
