Martin admits doubts over Qatar trip due to wrist injury

Aprilia rider Jorge Martin says he was in doubt about travelling to Qatar as late as the previous Tuesday because of the wrist fracture he suffered in a crash at the Phillip Island sprint. The 2024 world champion missed both races at the Malaysian Grand Prix, and finished third in the sprint and seventh in the Qatar main race.

Martin said he struggled with pain in the final laps and that he qualified too far back, in 11th, to have fought for the podium. He added that his race had been more mental than physical, and that he had felt like giving up after 12 or 13 laps before pushing on.

He is now 60 points behind Marc Marquez in the championship and needs to reduce that gap to 36 points at Portimao to keep the title fight alive until the finale in Valencia.