JORGE MARTIN WILL DECIDE ON ARM PUMP SURGERY AFTER AUSTRIAN GP

Jorge Martin is set to decide on arm-pump surgery after the Austrian GP following a further setback at San Marino. The Aprilia rider reported nerve compression in his right forearm, a condition riders call arm pump, which worsened on Sunday when he started strongly, took the lead, and stayed there for five laps before the problem affected him. He will make the call on treatment after Austria.

Ahead of the Red Bull Ring round, Martin is due to undergo an evaluation of his arm-pump situation this weekend to determine whether surgery is necessary. According to Motorsport, that assessment will take place on Wednesday, with medical professionals reviewing the extent of the problem and what course of treatment is required at a critical stage of the title fight.

Martin had looked on course to win the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano last Sunday, but arm pump saw him fade to fifth. The result allowed Marc Marquez to take victory for the fifth time this season and move into the lead of the standings, where he is level on 274 points with Martin.

In Aprilia’s preview for Austria, Martin reflected on how Misano unfolded and explained how the physical issue developed. “Misano did not go exactly as we expected,” he said. “Despite this, we’ll hold onto the positive aspects, because in the long race, I had a good feeling, a good pace, and I was riding the way I like to up until I began to feel my forearm tightening up.”

He added that the next step is to assess the problem properly once Austria is out of the way. “After Austria, we’ll evaluate how to tackle this physical problem, and we’ll examine the possible solutions.” Martin also thanked Aprilia for its support and said the team is working to reduce uncertainty heading into the next round. “Aprilia continues to do an outstanding job to help me find the right feeling and go into the weekend with as few doubts as possible.”

Martin said he is now focused on the Austrian race, a track he likes. “Now we need to focus on Austria, which is a track I like.” He also thanked the team and fans for their backing throughout the Misano weekend, adding: “I’d like to thank the team for the work they’re doing and the fans who supported us for the entire weekend in Misano. The atmosphere was spectacular.”

If surgery becomes the chosen option, Martin would do so ahead of a double-header in Japan and Indonesia in the first weeks of October. With only three weekends off between now and the end of the season, the calendar pressure is significant, and the Qatar round—scheduled to conclude a triple-header in early November—is described as likely to be cancelled.

Aprilia’s other rider, Marco Bezzecchi, also had a difficult Misano. He crashed out of the lead of last Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix, leaving him 33 points behind the top of the championship. Bezzecchi believes that going straight into another race weekend is key to moving on. “I’m obviously disappointed about the Misano race, but the positive thing is that Austria is coming up straight away,” he said. “Getting back in the saddle as quickly as possible after a mistake is fundamental.”

He acknowledged the hurt of the crash but pointed to positives taken from Misano, including speed, pole position, and his best sprint result of the season. “I’m clearly sorry about the crash, but we are taking away a lot of positive things from Misano: speed, the pole position, and my best result in a sprint race this season.” Bezzecchi concluded: “The mistake in the Misano race obviously hurts, but we’ll try to transform that pain into grit for Austria.”