MotoGP: Jorge Martin says Grand Prix Qatar 'like pre-season' as reigning champion needs up to 'two months' to recover confidence
Published 10/04/2025 at 15:45 GMT+1
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Jorge Martin has missed the opening three races of the MotoGP season, having suffered crashes before the campaign began, leading to fractures in his hand and foot. But he is finally back for this weekend's Grand Prix Qatar, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+. The reigning world champion has warned, however, that he is still far from being 100%.
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Jorge Martin admits he is far from 100% following his return from recent injuries, but is desperate to get back on the bike in the Grand Prix Qatar.
It has been a tale of woe so far in 2025 for reigning world champion Martin. First, he fractured his hand and foot after a crash in testing in Malaysia three weeks before the season began.
Then, just before the first race of the campaign in Thailand, he crashed again while training in Spain, fracturing his left hand.
Now he is set to make his long-awaited return with new team Aprilia and is clearly raring to go in Qatar this weekend, with the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"I'm really happy to be here again," Martin told TNT Sports. "It's been a really tough two months for me but finally we are here.
"Nobody knows exactly how much I work to be here today, it was a really critical injury.
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"I am still not 100%, but I want to start riding to start gaining some confidence.
"I think it's a good track to start because it's not that physical compared to Austin, for example. We have to be realistic and see my condition, this is the first thing.
"I think it's almost five months without a MotoGP bike, I just did 10 laps in Sepang. For me now, it's like pre-season, it's time to start gaining some confidence."
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In Martin's absence, his fellow Spaniard Marc Marquez won the opening two races of the season in Thailand and Argentina, before Italy's Francesco Bagnaia claimed victory two weeks ago at the Grand Prix Americas.
Martin will be playing catch up from here, but is being realistic about his chances in the weeks to come.
"I know it's race weekend, so on the other side we need to do as best as we can," he added.
"The important thing is to be realistic and understand my condition and then start building this confidence, this is the main goal.
"We're just trying to be back at my 100% physical condition. Maybe in one-and-a-half, two months, I can be at my 100% with the bike."
When is Grand Prix Qatar?
The race weekend for the Grand Prix Qatar runs from Friday, April 11 until Sunday, April 13.
There are two practice sessions on Friday (1:45pm and 6pm UK time) before qualifying sessions take place on Saturday at 1:40pm and 2:05pm.
The Sprint starts at 6pm on Saturday. The main event on Sunday sees lights out at 6pm UK time, with fans able to catch up on all the above on discovery+.
Grand Prix Qatar schedule and start times
(All times UK)
Friday, April 11
- Free practice 1 - 1:45pm
- Practice - 6pm
Saturday, April 12
- Free practice 2 - 1pm
- Qualifying 1 - 1:40pm
- Qualifying 2 - 2:05pm
- Sprint - 6pm
Sunday, April 13
- Grand Prix - 6pm
How to watch Grand Prix Qatar on TNT Sports and discovery+
TNT Sports is the home of MotoGP after agreeing a new multi-year deal to broadcast the championship in the UK and Ireland.
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
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Stream every race of the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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