Drama and Comeback: How Jorge Martín Became MotoGP's Favorite Again. Jorge Martín started 2025 as the MotoGP champion, but the season turned into a series of injuries and missed races. Now fully recovered, he is in excellent form and once again a strong contender for the championship.
Jorge Martín entered 2025 as the new MotoGP champion—after his triumph with Pramac Ducati and his move to the factory Aprilia team. At the start of the season, he was not only a symbol of change but also the main contender to defend the title. However, reality proved much harsher: at the very first tests in Sepang, the Spaniard suffered serious injuries—fractures of the wrist and foot, forcing him to miss all of winter training and start the year with surgeries and rehabilitation.
The first weeks of the championship only made things worse. Before the Thai Grand Prix, Martín crashed again during practice, resulting in new injuries and missing the first three rounds. His Aprilia debut in Qatar, highly anticipated by fans and the team, ended with a heavy fall: multiple rib fractures, lung damage, and hospitalization in Doha. Doctors counted eleven broken ribs and diagnosed hemopneumothorax—recovery took months.
A season on the edge
While Marc Márquez led confidently on the Ducati, Jorge Martín was forced to watch the battle from a hospital bed. He returned to the track only in the second half of the season, when his chances at the title were already minimal. On top of physical limitations came difficulties adapting to new machinery and rumors about his future with the team. In the end, the 2025 season became a test of endurance and psychological resilience for the champion: instead of fighting for podiums—he fought to get back on track.
A new chapter and ambitions
By early 2026, the situation had changed. Martín had fully recovered, regained excellent physical condition, and was once again among the championship leaders. According to him, his recent climbing record in Andorra became a symbol of returning to peak athletic form. He is now in second place overall, trailing only his teammate Marco Bezzecchi, and is openly stating his intention to fight for the title.
After the race at Mugello, Martín admitted there was still room for improvement, especially in qualifying and tire wear management. But his confidence and consistent results allow talk of a return to the MotoGP elite. As Motorsport notes, this season is a chance for the Spaniard not only to prove to himself and the team that last year's injuries are behind him, but also to once again become the main contender for the championship.
In recent years, MotoGP has tightened safety regulations and permitted private tests for riders recovering from injuries. This decision is largely related to the situation surrounding Jorge Martín and has become an important step for the entire series.
