Aprilia shares new update on Martin's recovery plan after heavy crash

Entering the weekend as the championship leader, the Aprilia rider suffered a heavy crash on Lap 8 of the Sprint at Phillip Island. X-rays revealed a fracture of the radius in his forearm. It was subsequently announced that Martin would be unable to compete in the Australian Grand Prix, which had already been delayed due to severe weather conditions.

After completing the latest scans, Aprilia announced in a statement that Martin will not fly back to Europe. The Italian team shared: "Jorge Martin underwent a CT scan to assess his condition following yesterday’s injury. The only confirmed injury is a non-displaced fracture of the distal radius. Consequently, the rider will not be returning to Spain and will undergo the necessary treatment over the coming days."

If Martin and Aprilia were targeting a return to racing during the season's final two European rounds, at Portimao and the Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia, it would make more sense for Martin to return home.

However, staying on the other side of the world could indicate that the title contender is targeting a return to racing at the Sepang International Circuit next weekend, although this has not been confirmed.

Ahead of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, Marc Marquez and Martin are currently separated by 10 points. The gap could widen further depending on whether the race at Phillip Island goes ahead today.