Jorge Martin, the reigning MotoGP world champion, has opened up about the heartfelt advice he received from Marc Marquez during his recovery from injury, describing it as incredibly meaningful and influential in his decision to delay his return to racing.
The Aprilia rider had a difficult start to 2025, suffering multiple fractures from a heavy crash on the first day of pre-season testing. A second crash during a training session before the season opener kept him out of action ever since. However, Martin is now set to make his comeback at next weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Speaking with Motorsport.com (Spanish edition), Martin revealed how several riders reached out to offer support—especially Marquez.
“Marc and other riders, like Pecco [Bagnaia], advised me not to rush. That was the best advice I could have received,” said Martin. “Marc’s words carry a lot of weight, especially since he’s gone through serious injuries himself. He spoke from the heart.”
Martin appreciated the gesture, noting that the concern from his rivals showed genuine sportsmanship and a shared respect among competitors:
“It’s touching when your rivals care. It means they want to compete with you at the highest level. When you see someone go through pain, you relate deeply.”
Marquez had previously shared that he messaged Martin before the Thai Grand Prix, urging him not to come back too soon. The eight-time world champion’s own experience in 2020 was a cautionary tale—after breaking his right arm at the Spanish GP, Marquez returned just days later for the Andalusian GP, which led to further damage, infections, and ultimately multiple surgeries. It took him until the third round of 2021 to return fully, and even then, his arm required a fourth major surgery in 2022 due to misalignment.
Martin took the advice seriously, knowing the dangers of returning too early. Now, he hopes to rejoin the grid stronger and smarter.
