Jorge Martín Eyes Return to MotoGP at Qatar GP After Injury Layoff
World champion Jorge Martín, who has been sidelined for the first three rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season, is officially set to return to racing at this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix — provided he passes the final medical assessments.
Credit: Motogp.com
Aprilia has confirmed the much-anticipated comeback of the reigning MotoGP champion, who missed the early races after a Supermoto training accident in the lead-up to the season. Martín’s return hinges on passing health checks ahead of Free Practice 1 on Friday, making his return to the track conditional on both medical clearance and how his body responds to riding the Aprilia RS-GP25.
In a candid statement, Martín emphasized that he won’t be aiming for immediate top results. “I have a great desire to be back on the track and I’m happy to at least be able to try and race in Qatar,” he said. “The goal will be to build up a bit of confidence… I don’t know how my physical fitness will be – undoubtedly not 100%. We’ll try to do our best and to improve gradually”.
Despite his determination, Martín admitted uncertainty about even finishing the race. “Physically, I’m not even sure I’ll be able to finish the race, but if we can manage to do so it will be a victory because that will mean that I’m beginning to recover. We need to take one step at a time to try and get back to our normal level as soon as possible”.
According to Aprilia, Martín underwent surgery on 25 February and has since been following an intensive physical therapy regime aimed at getting back to competitive form swiftly. The medical delegation from MotoGP will oversee his fitness checks to confirm whether he’s safe and ready to race for the full weekend.
Martín’s return to Qatar represents a crucial moment not just for his championship defense but also for Aprilia, as they field their full rider lineup for the first time this season. While expectations are being kept realistic, the mere act of returning to the grid marks a significant milestone in Martín’s recovery and the beginning of his quest to reassert himself among MotoGP’s elite.