Martin set for Spain return with a medical flight from Qatar

Jorge Martin has spent the last 11 days in Doha following the pneumothorax he suffered after crashing in the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix.

The reigning world champion had completed 13 laps of the grand prix when he crashed and, unfortunately, was left lying in the middle of the track, vulnerable to the pack of riders closely trailing behind.

Fabio Di Giannantonio was unable to avoid him and struck him violently with his Ducati, causing Martin to suffer a pneumothorax in his right lung and 11 rib fractures.

The Aprilia rider was rushed to Hamad General Hospital, where doctors focused on restoring normal lung function and alleviating the intense pain in his ribcage.

Last Sunday, just one week after the crash, Martin was discharged from the hospital and has been staying at a hotel in Doha while awaiting clearance to leave Qatar.

This Thursday, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola confirmed that Martín’s return home is imminent.

“The first piece of good news is that Jorge was discharged from the hospital last Sunday. The second is that on Saturday, he’ll be flying to Madrid on a medical flight,” Rivola announced.

“Even though he’s been accompanied at all times by his father and partner, going home will surely help him emotionally.

“Once in Madrid, Jorge will undergo thorough medical evaluation, and from there, we’ll begin to assess his recovery timeline, which we cannot determine at the moment.”

For Martin, this injury is just the latest in a series of setbacks. The Spaniard crashed on the very first day of the 2025 winter tests in Sepang on 5 February. That dramatic high-side resulted in a serious injury to his right hand, effectively ending his pre-season.

Weeks later, during preparations for the season opener in Buriram, he crashed again, this time while training on a supermoto bike, and badly injured his left hand. That second crash forced him to miss the first three rounds: Thailand, Argentina, and Austin.

In a recovery that progressed faster than initially expected, the Aprilia rider returned in Qatar.

Although there is no official word yet on his injury period, Martin’s time off the track is unlikely to be less than two months. Given the string of injuries he’s endured, he will likely avoid rushing back before he’s fully recovered.

Given the length and importance of Martin’s absence, some believe Aprilia should consider signing a replacement who can deliver more competitive performance than Lorenzo Savadori, the Noale-based brand’s test rider, who has been filling in on the RS-GP. However, that’s not part of Rivola’s plan.

Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia Racing

Photo by: Aprilia Racing

“When a problem arises, you have to turn it into an opportunity, and with Savadori we now have the chance to accelerate the bike’s development,” the Italian explained.

After suffering three major blows, the most pressing question is whether Martin will struggle more with the psychological recovery. It’s worth noting that he’s barely had a chance to showcase the #1 plate as reigning MotoGP champion – and nearly every time he’s gotten on the bike this year, he’s ended up on the ground.

“A rider with the heart, energy, and guts of Martín makes me optimistic in that regard,” Rivola concluded.