Spanish rider Jorge Martín (Aprilia RS-GP), the current MotoGP world champion, had to be airlifted from the Lusail Circuit during the Qatar Grand Prix after suffering a heavy crash. He was treated on-site by the medical team led by Dr. Ángel Charte, who later shared an update on the rider’s condition.

Initial diagnosis: traumatic pneumothorax

Dr. Charte, Medical Director for MotoGP, explained to DAZN that Martín "had a high-energy crash, bouncing through the outer, bumpy area of the track." Early X-rays revealed a traumatic pneumothorax, which means air got into the pleural cavity — the space around the lungs — making it harder to breathe.

The doctor also mentioned that “there are images suggesting a possible rib injury,” though he clarified it’s difficult to confirm due to the pneumothorax, which obstructs clear visibility on scans. Because of this, Martín was transferred to Hamad Hospital in Doha, where he’ll undergo a more detailed CT scan.

Treatment and monitoring underway

Before being flown out, the rider was stabilized with painkillers. “We can’t confirm anything more until we get the scan results. If the pneumothorax is large, we’ll need to drain it. If it’s small, we’ll just monitor it,” said Charte. For now, Jorge Martín remains under observation, awaiting a full diagnosis. The news has sparked concern across the MotoGP paddock, where the Spanish rider is one of the season’s standout stars.