MARTIN REACHES Q2, BUT PAIN MAKES QATAR A MAJOR CHALLENGE

Jorge Martin believes he can be competitive at the Qatar Grand Prix despite a broken wrist sustained in his Australian GP crash two weeks ago. After an unsuccessful attempt to race at Sepang, he completed substantial practice running at Losail on Friday and advanced directly to Qualifying 2, demonstrating his pace. Martin is targeting a place on the first two rows and said he can manage the race with painkillers. However, his condition deteriorated on Saturday as pain returned, prompting Aprilia team manager Paolo Bonora to warn that the rest of the weekend would be “very difficult”.