Martin crashes at Phillip Island; injury ends title bid

During the sprint race at Phillip Island, Jorge Martin crashed at Turn 8 while battling Marc Marquez. Martin had started fourth on the grid and surged to second before losing the front and rolling through the gravel. He was taken to the medical centre on a stretcher and later emerged with a cast on his right arm. Aprilia confirmed a fracture of the radial bone and a suspected fracture of the ulna, ruling Martin out for the rest of the weekend.

Title race implications

After the sprint, Martin is 10 points behind championship leader Marc Marquez. With Martin out of Sunday’s Grand Prix, a Marquez win there would stretch the gap to 35 points. The injury also makes his return at Sepang unlikely and leaves the Qatar round in doubt.

Marquez took pole for the sprint and led most of the race, finishing first with Alex Marquez second and Fabio di Giannantonio third for an all‑Ducati podium. Martin had briefly led into Turn 1 on lap 6, but ran wide, handing the lead back to Marquez.

Martin has a history of forearm fractures. He broke the radial bone twice before: once during the 2018 Moto3 season, which forced him to miss one race but he recovered quickly enough to win the title that year, and again before the 2025 season, which sidelined him for two rounds.