Jorge Martin will return to MotoGP action for the first time since February 5 as he takes part in Friday practice at the Qatar Grand Prix. The Aprilia rider is still recovering from hand and foot injuries, and it remains uncertain how well he’ll cope with the demands of riding the RS-GP throughout the weekend.
“I’ll take it session by session, day by day. I’m not even sure I’ll be able to finish the weekend,” Martin admitted on Thursday.
To ease the comeback process for riders returning from injury, Aprilia suggested a rule change that would allow those with long absences—like Martin—to carry out private tests before rejoining a race weekend. However, the proposal was blocked by rival manufacturers, as it didn’t receive the unanimous approval required by the MSMA.
Martin said the idea came from the team, not himself, and acknowledged the reasoning behind the rejection: “I understand why it didn’t happen. It’s normal—you don’t let a rival do that at this stage.”
Although changes during the season are rare, manufacturers are reportedly open to introducing the revised testing rule from 2026. Martin voiced his support for the future amendment, explaining how it could improve rider safety.
“If someone is out for two or three races, they’re discussing allowing a test before returning. Right now, like in my case, I have to use a race weekend to check my physical condition, which is a bit unsafe,” he said. “So I think it’s a really good idea moving forward.”
If approved, the new regulation would apply to Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM riders, while Honda and Yamaha riders are already permitted to test privately due to their ‘D’ concession status.
