Jorge Martin arrives at the Austrian Grand Prix with the shadow of his right arm injury still looming. The Aprilia rider admits he cannot yet be sure his condition is fully healed, and he will use free practice and the Sprint as the ultimate test before making a major decision regarding surgery.
In his pre-race statement, Martin revealed that the discomfort in his right forearm has not completely disappeared. He said he will monitor his body's reaction when he returns to the RS-GP at the Austrian track. “I'll see tomorrow on track when I go out. That will be the best test I can do: go out on track and see how it feels,” he said. The decision on whether to undergo surgery will be made towards the end of the season, but he does not want to rush.
Nevertheless, Martin is adamant he will not race half-heartedly. He stressed he will not compete just to maintain fitness. “I will keep riding, and if I really have a problem, then I will have surgery, because I don't want to ride at half strength,” he asserted. “There's no point being in the championship fight if I can't perform at 100 percent.”
The Madrid-born rider also highlighted the importance of the Sprint session as a decisive factor. Based on his experience at Misano, where he finished fifth after leading and overtaking Marc Marquez, Martin believes the short Saturday race will be the most accurate indicator. “I don't think I'll fully understand until the Sprint. At Misano, I wasn't too bad, and it was during the Sprint that I said, 'I'll try tomorrow.' And that's what happened. So I think the Sprint will be the key moment,” he explained.
If surgery is required, Martin is aware of the significant risks, including the possibility of missing Japan and the rest of the season. “It's a very difficult decision. There's Plan A, which is not having surgery if I'm fine here, and Plan B, which is having surgery, but that also carries risks,” he stated. “One of the risks is not racing in Japan and then not racing again for the rest of the year if it doesn't heal properly.”
Martin also does not rule out that the issue could be related to compartment syndrome triggered by specific track characteristics. He hopes what happened at Misano will not recur. “It could happen. I hope that's the case, that I can perform at 100% here. I've prepared as if for a normal race, I'm fully focused, and there's no point in dwelling on it,” he added.
Despite the injury, Martin fondly recalls the moments at Misano. “At that time I was in top form. I felt I could win in terms of speed and agility. I enjoyed those ten laps like a kid,” he remembered. He also admitted this 2026 season is tougher than 2024, when he took four wins. “This year I haven't managed to find the speed to win more races. But I'm always there, and in the end, it will pay off.”
Clearly, for Martin, the Austrian Grand Prix is not just another race. What happens on the bike, especially during the Sprint, will determine his next move. With a strong determination to remain competitive, he is ready to face the physical and mental test at Spielberg.
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