Motegi
Aprilia endured a disastrous outing in the Japanese Grand Prix Sprint on Saturday, with both of their riders eliminated in a dramatic Turn 1 collision that ended their race hopes within seconds.
As the grid charged into the opening corner, Jorge Martín lost control of his bike and suffered a heavy fall. His sliding machine careered directly into teammate Marco Bezzecchi, leaving the Italian with no opportunity to evade the impact. The incident not only wiped Bezzecchi out instantly but also brought Aprilia’s challenge to an abrupt end before either rider had completed a corner.
Martín, visibly shaken, was immediately taken to the circuit’s medical center for precautionary checks following the crash. Bezzecchi, an innocent casualty of the incident, was left stranded in the gravel, unable to rejoin the race. The collision marked a bitter blow for Aprilia, which had entered the Sprint with high expectations of securing valuable points.
For the Italian manufacturer, the Motegi Sprint will be remembered as one of the most disappointing moments of the season. With both riders sidelined, Aprilia faced a “black Saturday,” their aspirations for podium contention collapsing almost instantly. The crash not only highlighted the unpredictability of Sprint racing but also underscored the fine margins that can define success and failure at the highest level of MotoGP competition. The Incident is expected to prompt an internal review within Aprilia, as the team looks to regroup and recover ahead of the main Grand Prix race on Sunda
