MotoGP, Sportrik Media - The absence of Jorge Martin from the Sepang pre-season test places Aprilia Racing under early-season pressure in 2026, as a critical development phase unfolds without direct input from its lead rider.
Aprilia has officially confirmed that the 2024 MotoGP world champion will miss the Sepang test after undergoing two revision surgeries in mid-December. Martin endured a heavily disrupted 2025 campaign, contesting just seven of the 22 rounds due to injury, before returning to action at the Valencia season finale.
The decision forces Aprilia to navigate a crucial pre-season window without real-time feedback from its reference rider, at a moment when rival manufacturers are aggressively refining their technical packages. The Sepang test traditionally sets the baseline for engine behaviour, aerodynamics, and overall balance ahead of the opening rounds.
“In mid-December, Jorge Martín underwent two revision surgeries on his left scaphoid and right clavicle,” Aprilia Racing stated.
“This decision is aimed at ensuring his full recovery and peak physical condition ahead of the start of the season.”
In Martin’s absence, Lorenzo Savadori will lead development duties on the RS-GP26 throughout the Sepang test. His role is strategically significant, as he is scheduled to work across eight machines, including those of Trackhouse MotoGP Team, during the initial evaluation of Aprilia’s 2026 package.
“At Sepang, I’ll have a lot of work scheduled on all the bikes, including those of Trackhouse,” Savadori explained.
“It’s a shame Jorge won’t be on track, but the priority is that he returns in full physical condition before the season begins.”
Despite not riding, Jorge Martin will remain with the team in Malaysia to closely monitor the progress of the RS-GP26. This approach allows Aprilia to maintain technical alignment between its engineers and lead rider while avoiding any compromise to Martin’s recovery programme.
Martin’s absence at Sepang places Aprilia on a different trajectory compared to its primary rivals in MotoGP, who are expected to use the test to lock in early-season development directions. The quality of data gathered by Savadori will be decisive in determining how competitive Aprilia can be when the 2026 campaign begins.
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