MotoGP: Injured world champion Jorge Martin to miss first Grand Prix of the season

Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin will miss the opening race of the season this weekend in Thailand with a left hand injury, his Aprilia team announced on Monday.

Suffering from several fractures caused by a fall during a training session, the Spaniard must undergo surgery on Tuesday in Barcelona and, as a result, "will be absent from the Thailand Grand Prix", the Italian manufacturer said in a statement. Having already fallen during the first pre-season tests at the beginning of February, Martin had to withdraw from the rest of the tests due to an injury to his right hand this time, which required surgery. He was however expected for the opening round of the season.