Jorge Martin will not start the Australian Grand Prix after Aprilia declared him unfit to race following his crash in the Phillip Island sprint. The 2024 world champion has suffered a fracture to his right wrist, putting another serious obstacle in the way of his 2026 MotoGP title campaign.

The incident occurred on lap eight at the fast Turn 8, while Martin was battling Marc Marquez for the sprint victory. He was carried away from the gravel trap on a stretcher and assessed at the circuit medical centre. Aprilia said the X-rays showed a fracture at the distal end of the right radius, together with a suspected fracture at the distal end of the right ulna. The team also said that further examinations would be needed for a definitive assessment of his condition.

The timing magnifies the championship consequences. Martin had arrived at the sprint with a two-point lead over Marquez, but the Ducati rider’s victory reversed that advantage and left Martin 10 points behind. The next two events are already close together: Malaysia is scheduled for the following week, with Qatar set to take place seven days later.

The setback follows Martin’s injury-hit first season with Aprilia in 2025, when he competed in only seven rounds. His absence may also reopen a path into the title fight for team-mate Marco Bezzecchi, although Bezzecchi has a 50-point deficit to erase against Marquez. Aprilia’s further medical assessment will be important before Martin’s immediate competitive future becomes clearer.