Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin has suffered a chest trauma and eight fractured ribs in a crash in the Qatar Grand Prix.
This was the Spaniard’s first race weekend of the season after missing the first three of the year due to a pre-season training injury. He was running well down the field when he lost control of his Aprilia, and appeared to be in some pain in the immediate aftermath of the accident.
It has since emerged that he has a rib contusion on the right thorax with a pneumothorax. First reports do however suggest that he has not sustained any further problems with his limbs.
He will be taken to the hospital to undergo a CT scan for in-depth investigation.
Martin fell on lap 14 of the race, after losing the front end of his Aprilia in a fast right-hander.
Until that point, the Spaniard’s comeback from injury in Qatar had gone better than expected. He had shown respectable pace despite the problems with his left hand, qualifying 14th and just one spot behind his factory Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi.
Having managed to finish the sprint on Saturday, which was not a given ahead of the weekend, it was nonetheless unclear if he would be able to finish the longer grand prix. Martin was 15th on the first lap, but quickly dropped back before the accident ended his day.
MotoGP medical director Angel Charte said: “Jorge has had a high energy crash, bouncing on the outside of the track. He is conscious, oriented.
“In principle, the radiological examination we have carried out indicates that he has a traumatic pneumothorax. It is true that there is an image of one of the ribs that may be affected, but it is difficult to tell, because the pneumothorax envelope prevents us from seeing the image well.
“We are going to transfer him to Hamad General Hospital, do a CAT scan, and see the extent of the pneumothorax. If it is too large, we will have to puncture it.
“We have stabilised him with painkillers. Until we do the CT scan, we can’t say more.”
Martin’s CT scan in hospital subsequently revealed an increase in the pneumothorax, so he will remain in hospital for a few days for observation.
On Monday morning, Aprilia provided an update on Martin, announcing he had suffered eight rib fractures.
"Jorge Martin spent the night at the Hamad General Hospital,” the Aprilia statement read. “There are no traumatic alterations affecting the brain, cervical spine or abdominal organs.
“An update regarding the rib fractures: eight fractures affect the posterior costal arches from the first to the eighth and there are three fractures observed in the lateral arches from the seventh to the ninth. Minimal pleural swelling is also noted in the context of the known pneumothorax.
“Jorge will remain under observation for a few days in Hamad International Hospital until the pneumothorax resolves.”
