Jorge Martin returned to action at the Qatar Grand Prix after being cleared to race on Friday morning. The 2024 world champion had missed the Malaysian Grand Prix with a wrist fracture, but immediately produced an encouraging track result by taking fifth in FP1. He finished 0.734 seconds behind Marc Marquez, who set the session’s benchmark.

Martin’s condition was clearly better than it had been at Sepang, although he is not yet back to full fitness. Aprilia’s Paolo Bonora said the rider was handling direction changes more effectively, while heavy braking continued to cause difficulties. Bonora stressed that Martin still needs time to reach 100 percent and that the comeback must be managed calmly, with no unnecessary risks.

The difference in workload was another positive sign. Martin completed 15 laps in FP1 and linked five consecutive laps during his second run. At Sepang, he had managed two consecutive laps. Aprilia is therefore treating the Qatar weekend as a measured return rather than an invitation to demand a full performance immediately.

The championship remains mathematically open

Martin is 44 points behind Marc Marquez. To keep the title battle alive, he must prevent the Ducati rider from outscoring him by 30 points in Qatar. Martin has largely written off his championship chances, but says he will continue pushing while the numbers still leave room for a comeback.

Aprilia remains committed to the fight, while recognising that Martin’s physical condition is the weekend’s decisive factor. Bonora pointed to Martin’s previous Qatar victory and highlighted Marco Bezzecchi’s progress compared with last year. The target is a positive weekend built on realistic expectations, careful management and no rush to exceed the rider’s current limits.