Ducati have 'massive advantage' after 'nightmare' Jorge Martin injury, says Neil Hodgson - 'Worst bone you can break'
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/05/02/image-dfe2a7b1-16b3-40a7-aa20-5e002e65941a-68-310-310.jpeg)
Updated 28/02/2025 at 09:09 GMT
React to this story
The 2025 MotoGP season kicks off this weekend in Thailand, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. But reigning world champion Jorge Martin won't be there after suffering an injury that concerned Neil Hodgson because of the recovery time required. "It's almost the worst bone you can break," he told TNT Sports, describing the blow as a "massive advantage" to favourites Ducati.
Martin injury hands Ducati ‘massive advantage’, says Hodgson – ‘It’s a nightmare’
Video credit: TNT Sports
The worrying injury that ruled world champion Jorge Martin out of the start of the 2025 MotoGP season is a "nightmare" for Aprilia, according to Neil Hodgson, who believes it hands Ducati a "massive advantage".
Martin fractured his wrist ahead of this weekend’s season curtain-raiser in Thailand and Aprilia team principal Massimo Rivola has confirmed he will also miss the second race in Argentina.
However, TNT Sports experts Hodgson and Suzi Perry shared concerns that Martin could miss as many as four races, leaving him with a mountain to climb in the Rider’s Championship battle.
"It’s a nightmare because when you first get on a bike, you try and develop the bike to what suits your riding style," Hodgson explained on TNT Sports.
"He’s missed all that, so his team-mate Marco Bezzecchi will tailor the bike to him. The team will always listen to the rider who is fit and getting you the results.
"Not only has [Martin] missed the chance to learn the bike, but when he gets on it, it won’t feel like his bike. It’s a massive setback, but also recovering to get up to speed is going to take some time."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/02/27/4102588-83189413-2560-1440.jpg)
‘He’s a gladiator’ - Rivola delivers fitness update on 'superhero' Martin
Video credit: TNT Sports
He added: "We felt like Ducati have already got a big advantage, producing the best bike, with the best riders, but it’s a massive advantage. Tough times for Aprilia and Jorge Martin."
Racing gets underway on Friday, February 28 with the first practice session, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, before Saturday's Sprint race and Sunday’s Grand Prix in Thailand.
Martin will have to look on from the sidelines, and former Superbike world champion Hodgson explained what makes a familiar injury so difficult to bounce back from.
- 'For sure not in Argentina' - Martin to miss second round, says Rivola
- What to watch for in MotoGP in 2025 – From Marquez's title bid to the rise of Acosta
"It’s a mess. The wrist is the biggest concern. He’s broken his radius, the bone right at the end attached to the wrist, and his scaphoid bone, which is a really small bone in your wrist," Hodgson explained.
"It’s almost the worst bone you can break; you get a really poor blood supply to it. I broke mine, I’ve had two operations on it, and it’s still not right."
Perry said: "The problem is there’s the pain, but it takes so long to heal. That’s what he’s up against. We heard from Massimo Rivolla, the team boss, yesterday that he won’t be in Argentina for the next round. But it could be more than that, it could be Jerez (in Round 5) by the time we see him."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/02/28/4102851-83194668-2560-1440.jpg)
Bagnaia and Marquez go head-to-head in FP1 – ‘This session is vital mentally’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Hodgson responded: "The problem is he’s had the operation, he’s had the bone put in it, but you still have to wait for the bone to knit. It’s quite common you get non-union.
"It happened to me, it’s happened to so many riders. He’s not going to be in Argentina. I don’t think we’ll see him in America. It’s going to be a while."
Marquez tells Martin: Respect your body
Martin’s absence leaves former champions Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez of Ducati as the favourites for the title.
Six-time world champion Marquez reached out to his fellow Spaniard after hearing the news, offering some advice after his own issues with injury.
"I already spoke with Jorge following my bad experiences," Marquez said.
"I told him: listen to your body, respect your body. You are young, you have many races ahead."
Watch and stream the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement