Jorge Martin, the MotoGP champion, hopes to return from severe injuries for the Qatar race after missing the first two rounds of the season. He stresses careful recovery to avoid prolonging his absence. Meanwhile, Miguel Oliveira is sidelined due to a shoulder injury, prompting Augusto Fernandez’s replacement.
Jorge Martin, the defending MotoGP world champion, expressed hopes of returning to the racing circuit in Qatar after suffering injuries from two pre-season crashes. The Spanish rider has already missed the first two races of the season and announced he would not participate in the upcoming race in Austin, Texas, scheduled for March 29 and 30. The next MotoGP event will take place in Lusail, Qatar on April 12 and 13.
Martin indicated, “I expect to be in Qatar, but only if it does not pose any risks,” as he discussed his potential return with Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. He emphasized the importance of not rushing his recovery process, stating it could prolong his return if done irresponsibly.
Previously, Martin missed nearly all pre-season testing due to serious injuries, including a broken right hand and foot sustained in a crash in Malaysia. Additionally, he suffered another significant crash while training on a supermoto bike, resulting in multiple injuries: broken radius and scaphoid bones in his left wrist, four fractures in his left foot, and muscular injuries in his right ribs.
Currently, Martin trails behind six-time world champion Marc Marquez by 74 points. Responding to Marquez’s strong performance, Martin acknowledged, “Marc winning is not something anyone could not have expected,” but remains optimistic about his recovery, stating, “It was a difficult time but now I start to see the light.”
In news related to the Yamaha-Pramac team, Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira will miss the Austin race due to a shoulder injury sustained during the Sprint Race in Argentina. His place will be filled by Spaniard Augusto Fernandez, the 2022 Moto2 World Champion, who has recently become a reserve rider for Yamaha after racing for two seasons with the GasGas-Tech3 team.
In summary, Jorge Martin is making strides towards recovery from significant injuries that hindered his start to the MotoGP season. While aiming to participate in the Qatar race, he underscores the necessity of careful rehabilitation to prevent further complications. Concurrently, Miguel Oliveira’s absence from the Austin round highlights ongoing challenges within the racer community as they navigate injuries and replacements amidst the competitive season.
Original Source: www.sanfordherald.com
