Aprilia gives update on planned “special test” before Martin MotoGP return

Aprilia is awaiting medical clearance to organise a special test that could enable Jorge Martin to get back on the RS-GP before making his MotoGP return. 

The 2024 world champion has a medical check-up scheduled for the first week of July, after the Dutch Grand Prix, which will be the 10th round of the 2025 season and the ninth race that the Spanish rider has missed due to injury. 

Martin’s recovery is in its final phase, and it is expected that after this check-up on Monday with Dr Angel Charte, a more concrete return plan can be determined for the Aprilia rider.  

Martin was first injured on 5 February in the opening day of pre-season testing, and suffered a second injury later that same month before travelling to Thailand for the season opener. 

After sitting out the rounds in Buriram, Argentina and the United States, Martin made his comeback at the Qatar GP in April.

However, bad luck struck again and he crashed and was run over by Fabio Di Giannantonio during the race, suffering pneumothorax, pleural inflammation and multiple rib fractures. The injury forced him to spend two weeks in a Doha hospital and has kept him in recovery ever since. 

Following a regulation change approved by the MotoGP Grand Prix Commission, which was proposed by Aprilia, that allows a rider to take part in a test after missing at least three grands prix, the Italian team is now waiting for medical clearance to schedule a private test session. 

“We’re waiting for the doctors to clear Jorge,” Aprilia’s sporting director, Paolo Bonora, told Autosport about his rider’s return. “Once that happens, and thanks to the regulation change we ourselves proposed, we’ll be able to organise a test day.” 

Aprilia has three test sessions scheduled between now and the end of the season: 30–31 July  and 11–12 August at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and 29–30 October at Jerez. All of these are expected to take place after Martin’s anticipated return, which is currently projected for mid-July. 

“Once we get Dr Charte’s green light, we’ll look for a date,” Bonora added, without confirming a venue. However, all signs point to the Misano Circuit during the second week of July – most likely on the 8 or 9 July. 

So far, neither Aprilia nor the rider have speculated publicly on a return date, but Autosport understands that the Czech GP (17–20 July) is shaping up as the most likely scenario for the reigning world champion’s comeback. 

In contrast, the Sachsenring round in Germany (13 July), with its hard braking zones and tight, twisty layout, is not considered an ideal venue for a rider returning after a lengthy injury. 

Since 12 May, when Autosport first broke the story, Aprilia and Martin have been locked in a standoff over the validity of the second year of the contract both parties signed at Mugello in June 2024.

The dispute currently sits at a tense stalemate, although the rider remains fully determined to leave Aprilia at the end of this season and make the move to Honda.