PETALING JAYA: Rider Jorge Martin proves he is made of sterner stuff with return to Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia just six days after a wrist injury.
The Spaniard was given the green light to get back on the track as the World Championship leg returns to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) today.
Martin broke his wrist during the Grand Prix in Australia last week.
Aprilia Racing’s Martin, who sits 10 points behind leader Marc Marquez of Ducati, was cleared to take part in the first practice session after suffering a fractured wrist last week during the sprint race in Phillip Island.
With only 50 points separating Marquez, Martin, and fellow Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi, who sits third in the standings, the 2024 world champion Martin admitted that the battle had prompted him to return to the track despite not being fully recovered from his injury.
Although he will be assessed after the session to determine if he can continue, Martin hopes he can show some level of competitiveness to keep himself in the title fight.
“To be deemed fit is the first step, and to ride is the next step. After that we will decide,” said Martin.
“If I wasn’t in the championship fight, my arm would be in a cast right now.
“An injury like this takes a month to recover. But I did whatever I could to speed up the process.
“It’s still not healed, but I’m just going to try and see if I can be competitive.”
Meanwhile, Spain’s Marquez was delighted to see Martin cleared to race and warned that his compatriot would be as fast as ever.
“First of all, I’m happy to see Martin back on track. We know a rider will always try to race,” said the seven-time world champion.
“With all the medical protocols introduced in recent years, if the medical team says he is fit, then it’s safe for him to race.
“If he’s on track, he will be fast.”
Fans at the track this weekend will also be looking forward to cheering on local talent Hakim Danish Ramli in the Moto3 World Championship, where he will race with a specially designed livery on his motorcycle.
The 19-year-old hopes to deliver a strong outing in front of home fans and bounce back after a challenging outing last week in Australia, when he struggled to find pace before the race was cancelled.
“This is my home race week, and I’m excited to be competing in Malaysia. I’m feeling even more motivated and want to give my best for the team and my country,” said the MSi Racing Team rider.
Hakim currently sits ninth in the standings with 103 points, while holding third place in the Rookie of the Year standings.
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