Jorge Martín withdrew from the Malaysian MotoGP on Saturday after sustaining a wrist injury in a crash during the Australian sprint race last weekend.
The Aprilia rider had initially been cleared by MotoGP’s medical director, Ángel Charte, to compete in Sepang despite a suspected fracture. Martín participated in early practice but struggled with pain and limited strength, particularly under braking. After finishing last in the morning session—over two seconds off the pace—he and his team opted to pull out before qualifying. “For the efficiency on the track, the risk was too high. It was the best option to stop,” Martín said before his early departure .
His withdrawal hands a significant advantage to title rival Marc Márquez, who now leads the championship by 19 points after finishing second in Saturday’s sprint race at Sepang. With Martín sidelined, Márquez adopted a cautious approach on the treacherous, rain-affected track, prioritizing points over victory. “I didn’t want to lead because normally the one in front crashes,” Márquez said, adding that the extra risk for three points was not worthwhile .
Martín had pushed to race despite the injury, driven by the slim 10-point deficit to Márquez in the standings. “As long as it’s not over, it’s not over. I want to ride and see if I’m competitive,” he told Charte earlier in the week . However, concerns over aggravating the fracture—echoed by Márquez, who warned that “a MotoGP title is just an empty cup” compared to long-term health—ultimately led to the decision to withdraw.
The Spanish rider vowed to return for the next round in Qatar. “Right now, I’m thinking about my health, about recovering. I’ll fight until the end, I’ll try in Qatar,” he said . Alex Márquez secured pole position for the main race in Martín’s absence .
