This marks the end of a “nightmare” 2025 campaign for the Spaniard, who saw his title defense derailed before it even began, ultimately sidelining him for 14 of the 22 Grands Prix last year.

The road to recovery has been a test of mental fortitude as much as physical endurance. Martin’s 2025 season was a series of unfortunate events, starting with a high-speed crash at the Sepang test that fractured his right hand, followed by a terrifying collision at the Qatar Grand Prix that left him with a collapsed lung and 11 broken ribs. Even when he attempted a late-season comeback, the physical toll was undeniable.

Following the season finale in Valencia, Martin sought advice from fellow champion Marc Marquez, which led him to undergo two major revision surgeries in December to address bones that simply refused to heal correctly.

These procedures, performed at the Ruber Internacional Hospital in Madrid, involved a complex bone graft from his hip to repair a non-healing left scaphoid and a revision of his right collarbone with a more robust plate and screw configuration. While he was forced to watch the initial 2026 Sepang Test from the pit wall—analyzing data and immersing himself in the Aprilia garage—this weekend represents his first real chance to tame the RS-GP26.

The stakes in Thailand could not be higher, as the Buriram Test is more than just a shakedown; it is a race against time. With the 2026 season opener scheduled at this very same venue in just one week, Martin has only two days to find his rhythm and adapt to Aprilia’s latest aerodynamic upgrades.

The paddock will be watching the #89 garage closely to see if the champion has retained his signature “all-or-nothing” spark after such a prolonged absence. For Martin, the target is clear: proving that while his body may have been broken, his drive to lead the pack remains fully intact.

The post Jorge Martin cleared for Buriram resurrection first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

The post Stoner Slams “Logical Failure” of Trading Phillip Island for Adelaide Streets first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

During the recent Sepang test broadcast, Jorge Lorenzo shared his observations on the modern-day Marc Marquez, noting that watching him now is like looking in a mirror. Lorenzo remarked that Marquez has become incredibly smooth, avoiding braking errors and never running wide. For a rider who built a global reputation on “saving” near-crashes with his elbows and knees, this transition to a calculated and fluid approach marks one of the most significant technical shifts in the history of the sport.

This evolution was not born from a desire for aesthetics, but from the brutal reality of survival and the technical demands of modern machinery. Marquez’s career-threatening arm injury in 2020 served as a major catalyst, forcing him to find speed without the same extreme physical tax. Furthermore, his move to the factory Ducati has provided him with a bike that rewards the kind of calculated stability Lorenzo once championed. At 32, Marquez is now the seasoned veteran of the grid, trading his “bombastic” younger self for a wiser, more efficient version.

The irony of Lorenzo’s praise is not lost on long-time fans who remember their intense rivalry. The two shared a storied history, from their 2013 title fight where a rookie Marquez snatched the crown, to their 2015 battle where Lorenzo fired back to take his third championship. They even spent a brief, difficult season as teammates at Repsol Honda in 2019, an experience that ultimately led to Lorenzo’s retirement from the sport.

As the 2026 season dawns, both men have embraced new roles. While Marquez chases a record-equaling eighth premier-class title with a more methodical style, Lorenzo has returned to the paddock in a hands-on capacity. After years of podcasting and punditry, Lorenzo has officially become the performance coach for Maverick Viñales. By applying his legendary analytical mind to the Tech3 KTM box, Lorenzo is helping others achieve the same “smoothness” that Marquez has now mastered on his own.

The “new” Marc Marquez is a strategic powerhouse who has successfully combined his innate speed with the error-free philosophy of his greatest former rival. If Lorenzo’s assessment is correct, a precise and calculated Marquez may be even more dangerous to the rest of the field than the wild version of a decade ago.

The post The art of reinvention: How Marc Marquez became the new Jorge Lorenzo first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

The rider, carrying the number 89, received positive results from a medical examination on Monday. He now only awaits official clearance (FIT) from the medical team before returning to on-track testing and preparing for the season-opening race.

In a statement, Aprilia Racing confirmed:

Jorge Martín underwent a medical examination today on his left hand and right collarbone at Hospital Ruber Internacional.

The outcome of the check-up was positive, allowing him to plan his trip to Buriram, Thailand, next week to take part in the upcoming test.

However, Martín must still be evaluated by the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Medical Team in order to obtain official approval to participate in the test.

The post Martin Set for Thailand Trip After Positive Medical Check first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resulting travel complications and logistical restrictions mean it has not been possible to confirm the viability of the event at this time, and it will therefore not feature on the 2021 calendar.

The 2021 Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix has therefore been brought forward and will take place a week earlier than previously scheduled, from the 22nd to the 24th of October – the weekend immediately following the rescheduled Grand Prix of Thailand.

In addition, the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports are delighted to confirm the addition of the Algarve Grand Prix to the 2021 MotoGP World Championship calendar.

MotoGP will return to Portimao from the 5th to the 7th of November, the week preceding the Valencia Grand Prix, as the iconic Autodromo do Algarve welcomes MotoGP back for a second Grand Prix this season.

The post Australian GP cancelled, Algarve GP added and Malaysian GP brought forward one week first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

The duo also push the factory past the milestone of 750 podiums, with Yamaha now counting on 751 with two riders on the rostrum at Assen. Reigning Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) completed the podium, slicing through from 10th on the grid.

Quartararo took the holeshot from second, but the Frenchman wasn’t allowed to escape early as fellow front row starter as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) went for a Lap 1 leap at Turn 8.

It was close between Quartararo and Pecco, their exits compromised, with that allowing Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) up alongside the pair as Quartararo ran hot into Turn 9. Bagnaia said thank you very much, the Italian through to lead and holding station – for now.

Quartararo went for a move at the final chicane to answer back but was wide, and Bagnaia got his GP21 stood up and blasted back past. That happened again on Lap 6, before Lap 7 saw Quartararo grab P1 through Turns 12 and 13.

How crucial was that going to prove? Meanwhile, Nakagami was still holding Viñales at bay, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), Mir and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) line astern right behind.

Two 1:32.8s saw Quartararo stretch a 1.2 lead to Bagnaia on Lap 9, hammer down. On Lap 11, that gap was up to 2.5 as Bagnaia had to switch focus to keeping Nakagami behind him. The Japanese rider passed the Ducati rider on Lap 11 through the rapid kinks, but Bagnaia grabbed P2 back down the front straight.

Viñales, Zarco, Mir and Oliveira were all waiting in the wings and there was a copy paste of Nakagami vs Bagnaia a couple of laps later. Drama hit then though as the number 63 was handed a long-lap penalty for exceeding track limits.

On Lap 15, there was plenty of action. Bagnaia dived into the long-lap penalty loop, and then teammate Jack Miller crashed unhurt at Turn 5. Nakagami was sat up by Mir at the same corner and it was now Viñales in second place, four seconds behind runaway leader Quartararo. Mir was then up past Zarco at Turn 5 with eight laps to go into third, with Oliveira around half a second away back on the Pramac rider, in fifth.

At the front, the gap came down to 2.5 with two laps to go between Quartararo and Viñales as the latter seemed quicker, but after too much lost ground no one had an answer to El Diablo at Assen. A fourth 25-point haul of the season extends his Championship advantage to 34 points heading into the summer break.

Viñales delivered impressive late-race pace on the front soft tyre, but it wasn’t enough to reel in Quartararo. Nevertheless, after finishing last at the Sachsenring, P2 for the Spaniard is a splendid effort as the number 12 returns to the podium for the first time since his Qatar GP win. Mir kept his powder dry ahead of Zarco to secure third, the podium also his third of the season.

Zarco was forced to settle for fourth ahead of Oliveira in fifth, with a real battle deciding sixth just behind. Marc Marquez made a stunning start from 20th on the grid to gain ten places in what seemed like the blink of an eye, and he hustled on to the back of Bagnaia after the Italian’s Long Lap penalty. 

The eight-time World Champion couldn’t quite find a way past, although he was within 0.075 over the line as Bagnaia held on for sixth. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) took eighth, with Nakagami disappointed with ninth after an early podium challenge and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) completing the top ten.

11th went to Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) despite a run off for the number 42 following contact early in the race with Johann Zarco, with the Suzuki holding off Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as the South African got his first taste of Assen on a MotoGP bike.

Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) took 13th, ahead of Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) – another debuting at the track in the premier class – as was rookie Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama), who completed the points.

Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) crashed out fast at Turn 7 but rider ok, Miller went down at Turn 5. He rejoined but then had to stop with a mechanical problem. Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) also crashed, and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) was forced back into pitlane with an issue.

Now it’s time for summer break and a reset, with a double-header at the Red Bull Ring up next at the start of August.

Quartararo heads in with another win and a sizeable advantage at the top, but can anyone hit back in the second half? Join us for the Styrian Grand Prix from the 6th to the 8th of August.

MotoGP podium:

1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 40:35.031
2 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +2.757
3 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – +5.760

Top Independent Team rider
4 Johann Zarco – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +6.130

The post MotoGP: Quartararo conquers the Cathedral first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

That fight was won by his teammate Remy Gardner as the Australian did some good damage control to hold off Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team). With third place, the Spaniard nevertheless took his first podium since 2019 after a weekend of great form.

Aron Canet (Aspar Team Moto2) took the holeshot ahead of Raul Fernandez, but Gardner muscled through on his teammate too as the number 25 got shuffled back. Lowes made quick work of moving back forward as he got up into second behind Canet, striking for the lead not long after but the Spaniard taking it back.

Gardner was next on the charge as he picked his way through into the lead and Lowes followed, with Raul Fernandez then running off and dropping all the way back to ninth…

That left Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) making his presence felt at the front in fourth as Augusto Fernandez found himself looking for a way past the Japanese rider, but soon enough the number 37 was able to start pulling away with Gardner and Lowes, as Raul Fernandez started his fight back towards the podium battle.

The number 25 was on a charge and once in some clear air on the chase, his was reeling them in on his mission back to the front. Once there, he sliced back through past Gardner and the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team duo back into the lead and soon, the number 25 had the hammer down to pull away.

That left a Gardner-Lowes-Augusto Fernandez showdown to decide the podium, with Lowes still heading the train with four to go. But over the line next time around his teammate pulled alongside and made his move, with Gardner leaving it two apexes longer before picking the Brit’s pocket too.

Onto the penultimate lap, Gardner was lining up a move for second and he struck at the end of the lap. Slicing through at the Geert Timmer chicane, the move was super clean as the Australian lost little momentum, then shutting the door as he withstood the pressure from Augusto Fernandez the remainder of the lap.

The number 37 couldn’t make it through, however, with Gardner able to have enough in hand to head through the final chicane unbothered, taking second place and another 20 points. Augusto Fernandez got back on the podium in third after a tough start to the season, with Lowes forced to settle for fourth as the Brit just dropped off the back of the duo on the latter half of the final lap.

Raul Fernandez, however, made it another masterclass on Sunday for another 25 points. Over a second and a half clear once he’d escaped the squabble, the Spaniard continues to impress and pulled in five points on Gardner. 

Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) took fifth after an impressive ride back from P17 on the grid, ahead of Ogura as the Japanese rider took P6 and another impressive rookie result. Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) took seventh.

Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) just beat Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) to eighth by 0.042, with Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) completing the top ten for his second top ten finish of his rookie season.

Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Albert Arenas (Aspar Team Moto2), Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP 40), Tom Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) and his teammate and home hero Bo Bendsneyder completed the points, the latter despite two Long Laps for a jump start.

Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) crashed out, as did teammate Lorenzo Dalla Porta and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2).

Now it’s time to reset, reload and maybe relax as the summer break awaits, before Moto2 return to action at the Red Bull Ring in August.

Moto2 podium:

1 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 39:01.832
2 Remy Gardner– Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +1.066
3 Augusto Fernandez – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – +1.265

The post Moto2: Raul Fernandez fights through four-way battle for victory at Assen first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) took second to consolidate second in the Championship and makes some gains on leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) completing the podium, impressively despite two Long Lap penalties.

Fenati got the best start from second on the grid, the Italian pipping Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) to the holeshot. S

oon the Italian would initially drop back with two Long Lap penalties to take, however, and Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Andi Izdihar (Honda Team Asia), Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power), Yuki Kunii (Honda Team Asia), Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Takuma Matsuyama (Honda Team Asia) had to head through pitlane for their ride throughs.

That left second in the standings Garcia, Foggia, his teammate Xavier Artigas, Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Alcoba, his teammate Gabriel Rodrigo and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in the front group, although Fenati was able to get back in the mix and Pedro Acosta was soon on the scene from 18th on the grid. The Spaniard was declared fit to race on Sunday after missing qualifying.

The rhythm was fast at the front and the lead did change, but Foggia was a key presence throughout as he stuck to his style of hitting the lead and trying to stay there. That saw those on the chase lose more and more touch with the lead group, with only six riders set to prove able to stick it out to the end in the podium fight.

Coming onto the last lap, Foggia still led that podium fight, and the Italian had the hammer down ahead of Fenati and Garcia. It looked like the Leopard rider would be hard to catch, but Garcia was on the charge against Fenati and dispatched the Italian quickly, then closing and closing on Foggia in the lead.

As the final chicane dawned, the Spaniard wasn’t quite close enough and Foggia crossed the line with a tenth in hand for his second win of the season, in what’s fast becoming ‘Foggia’ style. Garcia takes second by just 0.078 but crucially was ahead of Championship leader Pedro Acosta, with Acosta taking fourth in the end. Fenati held onto third and thought better of a final chicane move, 0.129 off Garcia over the line.

Acosta’s fourth was awarded after the flag after Binder, who had passed him at the final chicane, was docked three positions for exceeding track limits earlier on the final lap so the South African is classified seventh. Tatsuki Suzuki takes fifth, ahead of McPhee by just 0.065, with Binder next up.

Rodrigo dropped off the back of the front fight in the end, taking eighth at the flag and some solid points after a tougher weekend ahead of the race. Artigas was close on his tail, the two split by just 0.045. Jeremy Alcoba completed the top ten from pole, the Spaniard riding at the track for the first time.

Setafno Nepa (BOE Owlride), rookie Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power), Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) completed the points, Antonelli despite a crash with Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) after which the latter was forced to pull back into the pits.

That’s it for the first half of the season, with Acosta heading into the summer break with a healthy lead and the closest man on his tail, Sergio Garcia, with some good momentum at least before the battle continues at the Styrian GP. Tune in for that from the 6th to the 8th of August for more Moto3!

Moto3 podium:

1 Dennis Foggia – Leopard Racing – Honda – 37:35.287
2 Sergio Garcia – Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team – GASGAS – +0.078
3 Romano Fenati – Sterilgarda Max Racing Team – Husqvarna – +0.207

The post Moto3: Foggia flies to second win of the season at the TT Circuit Assen first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

Jordi Torres (HP Pons 40) took second and fought off points leader Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) as the two duelled to the limit, although with drama for Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP), Zaccone extends his overall lead at the top.

From the middle of the front row, it was Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing) who out-dragged polesitter Granado into Turn 1 to snatch the holeshot, with World Cup points leader Zaccone holding station in third.

The key drama then unfolded at the end of the opening lap as Aegerter, the rider second in the standings heading to Assen, was down at the chicane – rider ok, but front washing away.

Lap 2 saw Zaccone take the lead, with Tulovic getting a bit beaten up after the perfect getaway. The German was shoved down to P5 as the riders ventured onto Lap 3, and Granado then put in the fastest lap of the race to take the lead at the beginning of Lap 4.

There was an eight-rider freight train split by just 1.6s with three laps to go, but the Brazilian had half a second advantage as Torres made a Turn 1 move past Zaccone into second.

Granado was in the groove though. With two laps to go he was still half a second clear, and Torres and Zaccone had gapped fourth place Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE). Just 0.6 covered the leading trio with just one more lap to go, but Granado held firm.

Torres was pushing but the number 51 wasn’t to be caught, staying just about out of reach as the HP Pons 40 rider then had to switch his attention to Zaccone. The Italian went for a move – as expected – but this time Torres really did get his elbows out, firing straight back and some contact between the two.

Zaccone then had a moment to compound it further, but the number 61 nevertheless completed the podium behind Torres. Granado, over the line, kept the gap at eight tenths.

2019 World Cup winner Ferrari claims his best finish of the season so far in fourth, 1.1 clear of fifth place Tulovic by the flag. Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) was just 0.036 behind the German, meanwhile, with Fermin Aldeguer (Openbank Aspar Team) only another 0.050 off in seventh.

Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) made a great start and was up to P4 at one point but the Japanese rider was forced to settle for P8 in the end, with Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac MotoE) and Barcelona winner Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) rounding out the top 10.

Heading into the summer break, 17 points split Zaccone, Torres, Granado and Aegerter in the title race. Zaccone leads by seven points, Torres gains and Granado too, with Aegerter now fourth but equal on points with Granado.

After another classic at the Cathedral, make sure to stay tuned with more of the same coming up in Austria next time out!

MotoE podium:

1 Eric Granado – One Energy Racing – Energica – 12:10.143
2 Jordi Torres – HP Pons 40 – Energica – +0.844
3 Alessandro Zaccone – Octo Pramac MotoE – Energica – +0.925

The post MotoE: Granado pulls the pin to gain ground at the Cathedral first appeared on InsideRacing.com.

Just 0.071 kept Top Gun ahead of teammate Fabio Quartararo in a close-fought Yamaha 1-2- at the Cathedral, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the front row via Q1.

Q1

Q1 had some big names including the aforementioned Bagnaia, Sachsenring winner and eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and second in the standings Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing).

It was a chaotic session at times but Bagnaia kept it pinned to move through, pipped late on by Zarco after the Frenchman had some issues early on. The two Borgo Panigale machines proved the graduating duo though, denying Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) by a tenth.

Marc Marquez crashed out of the session, rider ok, with only half a minute left on the clock as he lost the chance to move to Q2.

Consequently, the number 93 suffered his worst qualifying ever in the premier class as he gets ready to start from 20th, and has another surprisingly tough day at the the office alongside him: Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Q2

Free Practice 1, 2, and 3 pacesetter Viñales set the initial time to beat, a 1:32.413, but it was beaten on Quartararo’s first fast lap by 0.077. However, El Diablo’s next flying lap was nothing short of stunning: through Sector 3, Quartararo was over three tenths faster than his own time and was on course to set the first-ever sub-1:32 lap time at the Cathedral of Speed. Sure enough, hecrossed the line to lay down Assen’s fastest-ever two-wheel lap – a 1:31.922.

At the end of the first runs, the number 20 was a stunning 0.491 clear of Viñales in second place, with three tenths then separating third-place Zarco from ninth-fastest Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

It would take an almighty effort to beat Quartararo’s time, but that’s exactly what Viñales was about to pull out the hat. His first lap went astray after a moment at Turn 9, but his sixth lap of the session saw Viñales set a blockbuster 1:31.814 to beat his teammate by 0.071, a scorcher from Top Gun.

Bagnaia then shot up to P3 before Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hit back, but Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) decided it was his turn to sit on the provisional front row and the Japanese rider took over in third.

As the end of the session approached, all eyes turned to Quartararo. Up by nearly two tenths in Sector 1, the Frenchman was 0.135 under at the end of Sector 2. A small mistake at Turn 10 cost the number 20 time, however, and crossing the line, he couldn’t improve… leaving Viñales unthreatened at the top as the number 12 took pole for the first time in 2021. Bagnaia then shot into third, demoting Nakagami right at the flag.

The Grid 

Viñales, Quartararo and Bagnaia lock out the top, with Nakagami leading Row 2 in P4 after his best qualifying of the season. He’s joined on the second row by Zarco and Oliveira. Rins suffered a late crash at Turn 8 but is unhurt and will start from P8 as the leading Suzuki, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) on the third row in 8th and 9th respectively. Just over three tenths covers Bagnaia to Aleix Espargaro.

Reigning World Champion Joan Mir’s (Team Suzuki Ecstar) qualifying struggles continue as the Spaniard starts P10, but the number 36 has very good race pace.

Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) is the second fastest Honda rider in P11, and the Spaniard sits just 0.089 ahead of 12th place Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) after the Doctor made it through to Q2.

MotoGP front row:

1 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 1:31.814    
2 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.071
3 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – +0.302

Top Independent Team
4 Takaaki Nakagami – LCR Honda Idemitsu – Honda – +0.500

The post Quartararo and Bagnaia prepare for battle from the front row first appeared on InsideRacing.com.