Here is some brilliant news for the championship chase: Jorge Martin riding for Aprilia Racing has officially received medical clearance to jump back on his machine for Friday morning's Free Practice 1 at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. Thursday's medical check gave him the go-ahead, meaning we will see him out on track less than a week after a really nasty accident.
Let us not forget just how close this disaster came to stopping him completely. Following a rapid Sprint crash at Phillip Island last weekend, Martin picked up a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius in his right wrist. That kind of damage to the arm casts massive doubt over any rider's weekend, let alone one locked in a brutal battle at the sharp end of the standings.
Now, as we arrive at Round 19 for the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia, the Aprilia Racing rider sits just 10 points behind World Championship leader Marc Marquez of the Ducati Lenovo Team. The margins are razor-thin in this 2026 title fight, and every single session carries colossal weight.
Thankfully, the recovery has been swift enough to get him onto the tarmac for the opening stint of this crucial grand prix. MotoGP’s medical team will keep a close eye on the situation, scheduling another review of Martin immediately following the conclusion of FP1.
