MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin is about to make a shock look at this weekend’s Grand Prix of the Americas, Aprilia has confirmed.
Though nonetheless not match sufficient to make his RS-GP race debut, Martin is about to spend time with the group in Texas as he prepares for a possible return on the following Qatar spherical.
Ducati’s present championship chief, Marc Marquez, welcomed the information, calling it a ‘good technique’.
“It is good for him and for Aprilia,” Marquez mentioned. “We want the primary on the race observe, we want Aprilia there within the prime as a result of ultimately the championship with extra riders, extra producers, is a greater championship.
“And it’s a very good technique as a result of it is a new group for him. Then it appears like he will likely be on the Qatar GP nevertheless it’s obligatory for a rider to adapt to the bike and in addition to the group. So it is a method to adapt the group.”
Youthful brother Alex Marquez agreed.
“It is good to be once more on a race observe, to see how your group is working as a result of he solely did only one check, sooner or later extra in Montmelo [with Aprilia] and nothing in Sepang. It will likely be good to see him across the paddock.”
Martin’s choice mirrors an analogous method taken by his former team-mate Franco Morbidelli, who attended final yr’s Qatar pre-season check to familiarise himself along with his new Pramac group earlier than returning to competitors.
“I did the identical final yr within the Qatar Check. I could not experience a motorbike, however I went to Qatar to meet up with the group, to get engaged,” mentioned Morbidelli, who has switched to VR46 for 2025.
“Possibly an excessive amount of time removed from races will be counterproductive so it is good to spend time along with your group – and if it is a new group, it is much more vital – although you can not experience.
“It is going to be helpful for him to spend time within the pit field.”
Martin accomplished simply 13 laps of pre-season testing for Aprilia earlier than struggling accidents to his proper hand and left foot in a crash at Sepang.
His deliberate return on the Thai Grand Prix was then derailed by an much more extreme damage to his left hand in a coaching accident, ruling him out of at the least the primary three rounds of the season.
The Qatar Grand Prix takes place from April 11-13, the place Martin hopes to lastly make his race debut for Aprilia.
