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"I am fighting. Thanks for all the support" is the message Jorge Martin wanted to send from his Instagram profile, accompanied by a black and white photo. He's in a hospital bed, and you can clearly see the lung drainage tube. The Aprilia rider is still in Qatar, at the Hamad General Hospital, where he was transferred after his terrible fall in the race.
Jorge had come from two injuries in the winter (the first was during the Sepang tests; the second while training to verify his condition before of the Thai GP) and is now back in the infirmary. More than in previous cases, he'll have to rely on his patience, because the only cure for his injuries is time.
His collapsed lung is the most pressing problem, since it's forcing Jorge to remain in Qatar. According to international medical protocols, the drainage tube must be kept for at least 5 days before being removed. The patient must then stay another 4 days for observation, to make sure that ventilatory capacity and lung expansion are at an optimal level. At that point, it takes a few more days to be able to get on a plane. In a normal situation, it takes about two weeks to fly. The only alternative to expedite his return home would be to fly on a medevac.
Once back in Spain, the rider will have to worry about his recovery, and the only medicine is time. It takes time for the lung to heal completely and the same for the ribs. In fact, Jorge has 11 fractures: eight to the posterior rib arches and three to the lateral ones. For that kind of injury, you don't operate surgically but let the bones heal naturally. Magnetotherapy can be used, but it doesn't guarantee a faster recovery.
So how long will Jorge have to stay put? It's difficult to say right now, because each person's body reacts differently, and there are no certainties. The minimum recovery time could range from at least a month and a half to three months, tops. This means skipping many Grand Prixs. Jerez is scheduled in about 10 days, then Le Mans and Silvestone in May, and Aragon in early June. Mugello (June 20th-22nd) could be the first useful date for a comeback, but we're in the realm of speculation.
Martin will have to recover at his best after a long period of forced rest, and he won't want to risk too early. 2025 is compromised for him, so the best solution for Jorge is to listen to his body and return when he's in top shape. Patience is the virtue of the strong, and Martin will have to be strong, once again.
