Jorge Martin withdrew from the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang before qualifying, MotoGP confirmed on 31 October 2026. The Aprilia rider had tried to return after breaking his wrist in the previous round's Australian Sprint.
Wrist injury ends Martin's Sepang comeback
Martin completed 12 laps in Friday's opening practice, according to MotoGP's report of 31 October. He rode again later that day but stopped the longer Practice session early while managing the injury. The return had come just six days after the Australian Sprint crash in which he fractured his wrist.
Martin went back out in Saturday's second free practice session. MotoGP then confirmed his withdrawal before qualifying, ruling him out of the rest of the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend. The announcement closed an attempted comeback that had progressed from Friday running to another track test on Saturday.
SportsRivo checked MotoGP's separate qualifying report: Martin was absent before the session began, while Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi qualified fifth. That independent event record confirms the withdrawal's effect on the race grid, beyond the initial announcement. Alex Marquez took pole, ahead of championship leader Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta, the same report says.
A title contender misses a full race weekend
MotoGP described Martin as a title contender when it announced the withdrawal. The injury had come in the Australian Sprint, and the short gap before Sepang left him testing whether he could ride competitively. His Friday track time showed that he could take part in practice; it did not secure a start in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The qualifying report placed Martin behind Marc Marquez in the championship chase when he withdrew. Bezzecchi remained Aprilia's rider on the grid, starting from the second row. After the race, GPblog's result report recorded a win for Marquez and sixth place for Bezzecchi. Martin's absence therefore extended through both the Sprint and the Grand Prix.
What changes for Aprilia and the title race
- Martin missed the Malaysian Grand Prix after withdrawing from the event, leaving Aprilia without his entry in the main race.
- Bezzecchi was Aprilia's remaining title contender on the Sepang grid; GPblog recorded him finishing sixth after starting from the second row.
- Marc Marquez won the Grand Prix without Martin among the riders able to challenge him on track at Sepang, according to GPblog's race report.
Martin targets another return
MotoGP says Martin is targeting the next round for another attempt to race. In a video published after his withdrawal, MotoGP quoted title contender Martin: “It's not over until it’s over.” The statement is a declared intention to continue; the Sepang withdrawal remains the confirmed result of this weekend's attempted return.
Source: MotoGP