Jorge Martin set to miss pre-season testing after fresh injury setback
Just before the 2026 MotoGP season gets underway, Jorge Martin has been hit with news of two important surgeries.
While the operations didn’t take long, they matter because they address issues that have lingered for Martin since last season.
His collarbone, which he broke in Japan, and his scaphoid, injured in Sepang, have both been cleaned up. The decision came after a slower-than-expected recovery process leading up to the new campaign.
Martin hasn’t been on a bike since last season ended two months ago and is now up against it to be cleared for the opening race.
MotoGP fans have rallied behind Martin following reports that his most recent setback could keep him out of pre-season testing.
After a tough 2025 campaign, Martin has made it clear he’ll only consider offers from factory teams for 2027 and won’t return to a satellite setup like Pramac.
Jorge Martin’s recovery progress and 2027 MotoGP plans
While Massimo Rivola believes both Honda and Yamaha have put offers on the table, there’s nothing to suggest that Martin is interested or planning to take either one.
“We think Honda and Yamaha have already made an offer to Jorge for 2027, but we’ll see what he does. We want him to stay with us,” Rivola said. “I really believe in the combination of Maverick [Vinales] and Jorge.”
If Aprilia can give him a bike that’s able to compete, it makes sense for him to stick around until the new regulations come into play in 2027.
Rivola has confidence that the combination of Vinales and Martin could work well together under those rules, giving them time to find a rhythm before then.
Martin should have plenty of options by then. A lot of top-tier riders are expected to retire by then, so there will be openings at most teams.
If this is accurate, any talk of him missing pre-season testing might be premature. He hasn’t been officially ruled out yet, and this update sounds positive.
How Marco Bezzecchi could play a key role for Jorge Martin in 2026
Martin has taken note of where Bezzecchi excels and recognised his emergence as team leader last season as something that will benefit them both moving forward.
Bezzecchi has played a big part in developing the bike, helping to raise its level to the point where they can genuinely take on Ducati for race wins.
Who knows? Maybe 2026 ends up being the year that they contend for a championship, instead. For that to happen, Bezzecchi will need to collaborate well with Martin.
Both riders have shown they can be top performers on their day, and now the challenge is to bring that level consistently for Aprilia across an entire season.
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