Jorge Martin’s MotoGP comeback in Qatar began with seventh place on Friday and direct passage to Q2. The Aprilia rider is only six days removed from breaking his hand, yet he found a clear improvement in strength and feeling between the morning session and the afternoon. The performance was encouraging, although the injury is still limiting how hard he can ride and how long the hand may last.

Martin said he was tired but pleased with the work completed during the day. His confidence and strength in the injured hand are still below the level he wants, while pushing through it brings considerable pain. He nevertheless felt better with each lap and described the progress from morning to evening as substantial. That improvement is important because the Qatar weekend puts two very different demands on the hand: an 11-lap Sprint on Saturday and the full Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Sprint is within reach, but Sunday is still open

Martin believes he can ride the Sprint. The longer Sunday race is much less certain. He said the hand might reach its limit around lap 15, while inflammation could also change the situation overnight and leave it severely swollen. His expectation is therefore tied to continued progress and the therapies he undergoes before the next sessions, rather than to a firm prediction about completing the Grand Prix.

The injury affects both braking and corner transitions, but in different ways. As the hand becomes tired, Martin loses force and can struggle to slow the motorcycle effectively. The sharper pain, however, comes mainly during changes of direction when the bike is heavily leaned over. He said he is gradually getting used to that pain, but it remains the most difficult part of riding at the limit.

Martin is also compensating with the left side of his body because he cannot work normally with the injured hand. The result, by his own description, is a badly strained back. Even so, he considered the motorcycle’s performance in Qatar very positive and called the day his personal best at the circuit. He also linked that progress to improvements from both the Aprilia and the tyres, rather than to his physical condition alone.

The immediate target is another step forward in strength and a stronger time attack, the phase Martin finds most painful because it requires him to push at the limit. He believes a qualifying result in the first two or three rows would be significant under the circumstances. To manage the discomfort, Martin said he is using every available measure and treatment, while remaining optimistic that the hand will feel better the following day. The next sessions will show whether Friday’s progress can be sustained.