Jorge Martin is set to test his injured wrist at Sepang just five days after fracturing the radius. The Aprilia rider has been cleared to take part in Friday morning’s FP1, but that clearance covers only the opening session. His fitness will be reviewed afterwards, and Martin will decide during the weekend whether he can continue riding.

Martin sustained the injury in a crash while fighting Marc Marquez for victory at Phillip Island. The Grand Prix was later cancelled, leaving him ten points behind Ducati’s reigning champion with four rounds remaining. Martin said the conventional response, had he not been contesting the title, would have been to place his arm in a cast for four or five weeks. Instead, he will try to ride while the radius remains broken and unhealed.

The immediate question is not simply whether Martin can tolerate the pain. He also needs to establish whether he can produce competitive pace. He expects his condition to remain uncertain in Malaysia and at Qatar, which is scheduled for the following week. A race-free weekend follows Qatar before the final rounds at Portimao and Valencia. For Martin, the title fight remains relevant only if he can perform at the required level.

A difficult Sepang benchmark for Aprilia

Sepang’s record offers little comfort to Aprilia. Ducati has nine Malaysian MotoGP victories, including the last four Grands Prix in succession, and has also won all three Sepang Sprints. Aprilia’s best MotoGP finish at the circuit is seventh, recorded by Alvaro Bautista in 2016 and Maverick Vinales in 2024.

Ai Ogura was the leading RS-GP rider at Sepang last year in tenth place. Martin’s teammate Marco Bezzecchi, meanwhile, posted the second-fastest time on the final day of this year’s pre-season test. Martin missed both last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix and this year’s pre-season running because of injury.

Marquez has won twice at Sepang, although injury kept him out of last year’s race; his latest victory there came with Honda in 2018. Last season, Pecco Bagnaia took the Sprint win and Alex Marquez won the Grand Prix. Afternoon thunderstorms are another potential variable across the weekend, adding a further test to Martin’s already uncertain return.