Jorge Martin will attempt to compete in Qatar GP pending clearance from MotoGP doctors, as Augusto Fernandez will get another go at Pramac.
Jorge Martin –
Aprilia Racing is preparing to tackle the fourth race of the season on Lusail International Circuit with a complete line-up: Jorge Martin, who will be back on the track after missing the first three races due to an injury, and Marco Bezzecchi who will be aiming to confirm his grand form. Jorge Martin, absent from the first three races of the year due to an injury suffered during training, will return to the track to finally begin his season with Aprilia Racing.
The Spanish rider, who had a complex fracture of the radius and scaphoid on the left hand, and an ipsilateral calcaneal fracture during a training session, underwent surgery on 25 February and then followed an intense physical therapy programme with the goal of returning to the track as quickly as possible.
Before taking to the track, the defending world champion will need to be assessed by the World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing Championship medical delegation in order to be cleared to race. After a difficult season start, marred by two injuries – first in the Sepang tests and then during training – Jorge Martin’s primary objective will be to assess his physical fitness after almost five months of inactivity.
Marco Bezzecchi is heading to Qatar with the goal of realizing his potential after a weekend at COTA marked by a growth trend. The Italian rider demonstrated speed and great determination in the first three races of the season and he is counting on continuing that positive trend and his good feeling with the RS-GP25.
Lusail International Circuit, located just outside the Qatar capital of Doha, is 5,400 metres long with a main straight that stretches out more than one kilometre. The track comprises 10 right-handers and 6 left-handers. In 2008, the first night GP in history was held in Qatar. The switch to night races was a success, making this one of the most spectacular rounds on the MotoGP calendar.
JORGE MARTIN: “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. The goal will be to build up a bit of confidence with the RS-GP25 and to begin to turn some laps. I don’t know how my physical fitness will be – undoubtedly not 100%.
“We’ll try to do our best and to improve gradually. Physically, I’m not even sure I’ll be able to finish the race, but if we can manage, 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.”
Augusto Fernandez –
As Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) continues his rehabilitation following a crash during Round 2 at Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina, he will once again be replaced by Augusto Fernandez. The 27-year-old returned to the MotoGP saddle for the Grand Prix of the Americas last time out and scored three points in a wet and wild Sunday afternoon Grand Prix.
Oliveira’s injury to his left shoulder has kept him off-track since the accident occurred with Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) during the Argentina Sprint on Saturday 15th of March. Despite undergoing further medical examinations to assess the shoulder’s recovery, the 30-year-old Portuguese rider will also miss the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar.
Yamaha Factory Racing test rider Fernandez will be in his place and returns to a track where the 2022 Moto2 World Champion been a top five finisher in the class as well as a points-scorer in MotoGP.
Private testing –
Ahead of the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, there’s already been important track action elsewhere with a private test taking place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The Italian venue has welcomed KTM and Aprilia to the track, as they get important miles bagged.
Fielding test riders Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro at KTM and Lorenzo Savadori at Aprilia – who until now has been deputising for Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) on the grid – it’s a good opportunity to get down to business and see what’s hot and what’s not before the Official Test at Jerez on April 28th.
Whilst Savadori has had plenty of time aboard the RS-GP in 2025, the last outing for Espargaro and Pedrosa was at the Shakedown Test at Sepang, back in early February. For both, it’s also a chance to use concessions to their advantage and try to close the gap to Ducati. With it being a private test, only KTM and Aprilia are on track and category D concession manufacturers – Yamaha and Honda – are not present, electing to stick to their own testing plans.
[The story is as per press release]
