News Summary
- Aprilia will reassess Jorge Martín’s condition on Saturday morning after the Spaniard stopped Friday’s Malaysian MotoGP Practice session following just three laps.
- Team manager Paolo Bonora says the decision was made with MotoGP medical director Ángel Charte, allowing Martín more time to recover rather than risk aggravating his fractured right wrist.
- Martín remains medically eligible to participate, but his ability to complete qualifying, the sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix is uncertain, with Marc Márquez leading the championship by ten points.
Aprilia has cast fresh doubt on Jorge Martín’s ability to complete the Malaysian MotoGP Grand Prix weekend after deciding to stop the injured Spaniard’s Friday (October 30) Practice session early at Sepang. Team manager Paolo Bonora confirmed that the decision was taken in consultation with MotoGP medical director Ángel Charte, with Martín struggling to manage the physical demands of riding only six days after fracturing his right wrist at Phillip Island.
The 2024 World Champion completed just three laps during Friday afternoon’s session and was unable to secure direct qualification for Q2. Although medical officials had cleared him to continue participating after the morning’s FP1, Aprilia decided that attempting a competitive time attack would involve unnecessary risk. The team will evaluate his condition again on Saturday before determining how to proceed.
Aprilia and MotoGP medical director agree to stop Martín’s Practice
Martín arrived at Sepang hoping to continue his championship campaign despite the injury he sustained during the Australian sprint on October 24.
The Spaniard suffered a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius in his right forearm and missed the remainder of the Phillip Island weekend.
After undergoing treatment, he travelled to Malaysia with Aprilia and received medical permission to participate in Friday’s opening session.
He completed 12 laps in FP1 before undergoing another examination.
The medical team subsequently declared him fit to continue competing, allowing Aprilia to prepare for the afternoon’s timed Practice session.
However, Martín experienced difficulties when he returned to the circuit.
The rider narrowly avoided a crash at Turn 12 and subsequently returned to the garage, where the team decided against continuing his programme.
Bonora explained that the decision had been reached with the championship’s medical specialists.
“We have decided that Jorge Martín will not continue with the rest of today’s Practice session,” Bonora told the official MotoGP broadcast.
“We will see how he is tomorrow morning.”
The Italian added that riding at maximum pace would place considerable demands on Martín’s injured arm.
“If he wanted to do a fast lap, it would be difficult to manage the physical effort, so it’s better not to take any risks today.”
The decision left Martín without an opportunity to complete a qualifying simulation during the final part of Practice.
Near-crash at Turn 12 was not the only reason Martín stopped
Martín’s moment at Turn 12 attracted attention because it came during his first competitive weekend since the Australian injury.
The Aprilia rider lost control momentarily but managed to prevent the motorcycle from falling.
The incident was particularly concerning given the consequences another crash could have for his fractured wrist.
However, Bonora indicated that the near-crash itself was not the sole reason for ending Martín’s session.
The team had already been monitoring his physical condition and the effort required to ride the RS-GP.
The difficulty became more pronounced as Martín attempted to increase his pace.
According to Bonora, the concern centred on whether the Spaniard could safely manage the physical demands of completing a fast lap.
The decision was therefore made to preserve his remaining strength for Saturday rather than continue riding through discomfort.
Stopping Friday’s session was a precautionary decision by Aprilia and the medical team, not an announcement that Martín had been declared unfit for the entire Grand Prix.
The distinction is important because medical officials had authorised his continued participation earlier on Friday.
Whether he takes part in the remaining sessions will depend on his condition and any further medical guidance.
Martín faces Q1 if he continues in Malaysia
The early withdrawal also has sporting consequences.
Friday afternoon’s Practice determines which ten riders progress directly into Saturday’s Q2 qualifying session.
Martín completed only three laps and finished 21st with a best time of 1:59.670, leaving him 2.670 seconds behind the fastest rider.
As a result, he missed direct qualification for Q2.
If the Aprilia rider continues competing on Saturday, he must begin in Q1.
Only the two fastest riders from that segment advance to Q2, making the route to a strong starting position more demanding.
Martín will also have to manage the physical exertion of additional laps before the sprint.
The Friday Practice report, led by Marc Márquez despite a crash, details the session in which the championship leader recorded a 1:57.000 and secured direct passage into Q2.
The contrast leaves the two championship rivals facing very different preparations for Saturday.
Márquez leads championship as Martín fights to continue
Martín’s physical condition is particularly significant because the 2026 MotoGP championship remains closely contested.
Marc Márquez arrived in Malaysia with 365 points, ten ahead of Martín on 355.
The gap changed at Phillip Island, where Márquez won Saturday’s sprint after Martín crashed and failed to score.
Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix was subsequently cancelled because poor visibility prevented the medical helicopter from operating safely.
The cancellation preserved Martín’s championship position despite his absence from the planned main race.
With four scheduled rounds remaining, a maximum of 148 points was still available before the Malaysian weekend.
Sepang offers 37 points across Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
MotoGP 2026 — Championship leaders before Malaysia
| Pos. | Rider | Team | Points | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. MÁRQUEZ | Ducati | 365 | — |
| 2 | J. MARTÍN | Aprilia | 355 | -10 |
| 3 | M. BEZZECCHI | Aprilia | 315 | -50 |
The complete standings after the Australian Grand Prix cancellation include every rider.
Márquez topped both Friday sessions in Malaysia, finishing the afternoon 0.109 seconds ahead of his brother Álex Márquez.
Martín, meanwhile, must first establish whether his injury will allow him to participate in Saturday’s programme.
The championship scenarios before the Malaysian Grand Prix explain how the points difference could change if both contenders participate.
Sepang’s braking zones add to Martín’s recovery challenge
Sepang International Circuit presents substantial physical demands because of its high temperatures, humidity and heavy braking zones.
The 5.540km circuit includes long straights followed by corners where riders must apply significant force to the front brake.
For Martín, the difficulty is concentrated in his recovering right wrist.
The injury affects an area essential for controlling the throttle and front brake, making it particularly challenging to maintain normal riding technique.
The Spaniard had already acknowledged before the weekend that he could not predict how well his wrist would respond.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported when Aprilia confirmed his journey to Sepang, he intended to assess the situation day by day.
Friday’s running provided a first indication of the limitations he still faces.
His morning session was sufficiently encouraging for medical officials to authorise continued participation, but the more demanding afternoon programme prompted Aprilia to stop.
The team’s next evaluation will determine whether he can attempt Saturday’s qualifying sessions and sprint.
When will Aprilia decide if Martín can continue?
Aprilia plans to reassess Martín on Saturday morning, October 31.
MotoGP’s second free-practice session begins at 10:10am Malaysian Time, followed by Q1 at 10:50am and Q2 at 11:15am.
The ten-lap sprint is scheduled for 3:00pm local time.
Malaysian GP — Saturday schedule
| Session | Malaysia (MYT) | UK (GMT) | India (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FP2 | 10:10am | 2:10am | 7:40am |
| Q1 | 10:50am | 2:50am | 8:20am |
| Q2 | 11:15am | 3:15am | 8:45am |
| Sprint | 3:00pm | 7:00am | 12:30pm |
Sunday’s Grand Prix is scheduled for 3:00pm MYT, equivalent to 7:00am GMT in the United Kingdom and 12:30pm IST in India.
The complete Malaysian MotoGP schedule and international start times provide further information for viewers in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
Aprilia has not announced a definitive withdrawal for Martín, and his medical clearance has not been formally revoked.
The team will decide its next steps after evaluating his condition on Saturday morning.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Malaysian MotoGP Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its MotoGP section.
