After a three -month forced break, world champion Jorge Martín in the MotoGP reported back with a convincing performance.
At the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic in Brno, the Spanish Aprilia pilot became fifth in training on Friday afternoon and confidently moved into qualifying 2. Only the top ten drivers get a ticket for the decisive session (Saturday, 11.15 a.m./Sky) to determine the starting places, all others have to go to Q1. Two pilots are still moving into the Q2 via this detour.
The superior World Cup leader Marc Márquez (Spain/Ducati), which drove in 2: 03.935 minutes in dry conditions, was again not to beat. Martín had a good seven tenth behind. The direct qualification for the Q2 missed the two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia (Italy/Ducati) as 13.
Martín had fallen heavily in Catar at the previous low point of a epidemic season and had suffered injuries to the chest with several rib fractures and pneumothorax. Now he’s back.
On Thursday, the 27-year-old ended in Brno for several months and announced that he will also drive for the Aprilia work team in 2026. Previously, there had been an effort from his side to leave the racing team via an exit clause.