Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin has been ruled out of a return to action at the German Grand Prix following his latest medical check, as he continues to recover from the injuries sustained at the Qatar round of the championship back in April.
The Sachsenring race has been something of an unofficial target for the Aprilia rider following his crash, but that message has been somewhat downplayed by his management team in recent weeks by suggesting that the left-hand circuit would not be the ideal place for a comeback.
Suffering from extensive wrist, rib, and lung injuries after both crashing at Lusail and then being struck by the oncoming Ducati of Fabio Di Giannantonio - and with Martin already riding injured following crashes in pre-season testing and in training that altogether have kept him out of all but one round of 10 so far this year - it's not yet known when he will return.
But it is possible that his comeback may only be delayed by a week, with Brno a week after the Sachsenring a possible new target.
In a statement released by Martin's Aprilia team on Monday, MotoGP medical director Dr Angel Charte said that while he was pleased with the progress made so far by Martin, more time is still needed.
"There is significant improvement in the fracture sites of most of the left rib injuries," the statement confirmed. "Despite the notable progress, some of the fractures have not yet fully consolidated. The evolution is very positive, and on this basis two more weeks are needed for complete healing."
"Clinical progress is good," added hand surgeon Dr Xavier Mir, speaking about Martin's broken wrist, "with nearly a full range of motion in the scaphoid. Right now the bone consolidation is not yet 100%, but the healing process is progressing positively, despite the repair not yet being fully complete."
Aprilia also confirmed that the opportunity for Martin to test privately, something it successfully lobbied for a rule change to allow for, is still on the cards - but that depends on the timeline for his return and on the results of a further medical examination next week.
Martin remains in a contract dispute with Aprilia as he seeks to move on from the team he has started for at just one weekend since he moved over for 2025.
Last weekend at the Dutch TT, Aprilia confirmed that one option available to it is a likely lengthy and expensive court battle. That is unless Martin agrees to stay, or Aprilia and Honda - his likely alternative destination - can reach an acceptable mutual agreement over his release for 2026.
