It’s been a relatively busy week since the checkered flag fell after MotoGP’s return to Argentina. From Termas de Rio Hondo, a small group of riders headed to Brazil, to visit the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiânia. And there have been updates on a couple of injured riders. So here’s quick round up of the most significant news so far this week.
Jorge Martin may try to return in Qatar
In a video posted to his Instagram account, reigning world champion Jorge Martin gave an update on his recovery from the injuries he suffered in the preseason. The recovery from his first injury – a broken bone in his right hand sustained in a highside after just 13 laps of the Sepang test – had gone relatively rapidly, despite being forced to miss both the Sepang and Buriram tests.
His second injury – a broken scaphoid and radius in his left wrist, as well as broken bones in his foot and bruised ribs – had been much more difficult, Martin admitted, in a remarkably candid video. “Honestly, the last few weeks have been quite tough,” the factory Aprilia rider said. “I’ve been struggling a lot, which is why I’ve not been very active on social media.”
After missing both Thailand and Argentina, and already certain to miss the GP Of The Americas in Austin, Martin is on the road to recovery. “It was a really difficult time, but now I start to see a bit more the light,” he said.
He promised he would learn from his mistakes, and said he was working really hard to recover, though he did not know for sure when he would return to racing. “For sure I won’t be in Austin. The plan is to be in Qatar, but nothing is certain.” Missing Austin is sensible, given just how physically demanding that track is. Qatar is a much better option to return, but given he will already have missed the first three rounds, there is relatively little to be gained from coming back at Qatar, the extra couple of weeks until Jerez potentially offering useful extra recovery time.
Oliveira out, Augusto Fernando in
Miguel Oliveira added another chapter to his run of bad luck in MotoGP in Termas de Rio Hondo, when he was taken out on lap 5 of the sprint race by Fermin Aldeguer. The Gresini Ducati rider slammed into Oliveira’s Pramac Yamaha, taking them both down. Aldeguer walked away from the crash unhurt, and remounted to continue, but Oliveira picked up a shoulder injury as a result.
Initial scans in Argentina showed no fractures, but significant bruising and a large hematoma on his chest. Further medical exams back home in Portugal showed Miguel Oliveira had suffered a dislocation of the left sternoclavicular joint, the joint between the collarbone and the breastbone, including ligament damage.
The treatment for the injury is immobilization and time. But Oliveira will not be fit enough to race in Austin. As a result, the Pramac Yamaha team has been forced to draft in Yamaha’s test rider Augusto Fernandez to take his place.
That, in turn, causes complications for Yamaha, as Fernandez had already been slated to replace the injured Jonathan Rea in the Pata Yamaha squad at the Portimão round of WorldSBK set to take place on the same weekend of 30th March. Fernandez had already taken part in the partially rained off WorldSBK test at Portimão last weekend.
As a result, Yamaha have had to bring in ex-BSB rider and current Yamaha YART EWC rider Jason O’Halloran to replace Jonathan Rea. O’Halloran was set to start as test rider for the Yamaha WorldSBK project, so this is an ideal start for the Australian.
The press releases from Pramac Yamaha and the Yamaha WorldSBK program appear at the bottom of this article.
Preparing Brazil 2026
After the Argentinian GP at Termas de Rio Hondo, a group of four riders from the MotoGP paddock visited the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiânia, Brazil. Alongside senior Dorna staff, including Carmelo and Carlos Ezpeleta, and Dorna Chief Commercial Officer Dan Rossomondo, they met a sizable group of fans and inspected the track.
The four riders – Honda HRC Castrol’s Luca Marini, along with the three Brazilians in the paddock, Pertamina VR46’s Franco Morbidelli, Italtrans Moto2 rider Diogo Moreira, and LCR’s MotoE rider Eric Granado – also did a few laps of the circuit on street bikes. Afterwards, Luca Marini praised the layout. “I think it’s a super fast track, maybe the fastest average speed on the calendar,” he told the MotoGP.com website. “In a track like this, where you can see many corners from the grandstands, will be amazing also for the fans.”
There is still a lot of work to be done to get the track ready on time, however. Photos shared privately from the circuit showed that the pit boxes and building along pit lane was far from complete. But the circuit has a year in which to complete the work and get ready for the first GP in Brazil since 2004.
In an interview with Brazilian website GrandePremio.com.br, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta welcomed the race in Brazil, and left open the chance of MotoGP racing both in Argentina and Brazil. Though the contract with the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit ends this year, Ezpeleta said he was still talking to the authorities in Argentina. A race in Argentina could also be moved to Buenos Aires.
Suzuka 8 Hours – MotoGP interest again?
Yamaha have launched their bike and team for the Suzuka 8 Hours race, to be held from August 1st-3rd this year. Because this is Yamaha’s 70th anniversary, celebrating the founding of the company on July 1st, 1955, the bike is to run a special livery in their traditional red and white colors, inspired by the legendary Yamaha YZF-R7 superbike, first released in 1999 and campaigned by such legendary riders as Noriyuki Haga.
The Yamaha press release states that they will be fielding Yamaha JSB1000 stalwart Katsuyuki Nakasuga, along with, “two teammates selected from among Yamaha riders currently competing in the MotoGP World Championship and Superbike World Championships”. The riders are expected to be named later in the year, on Yamaha’s dedicated Suzuka 8 Hours website. Favorite for the ride from the MotoGP paddock at the moment is Jack Miller, though we are still in the period where speculation and rumor are running wild.
Yamaha’s announcement is also stepping up the pressure on Ducati. The Italian factory has increased its involvement in the World Endurance Championship, supplying a Ducati Panigale V4 to the Aviobike WRS Team competing in the Superstock class in the EWC championship this year. Ducati Corse CEO Gigi Dall’Igna has already expressed an interest in racing the Panigale at Suzuka, though he has never explicitly named a date or deadline.
But rumor and speculation are the bread and butter of the MotoGP paddock, and rumors abound that Ducati is examining an entry for Suzuka, which would include riders from MotoGP. It is unlikely that either Marc Márquez or Pecco Bagnaia could be persuaded to participate, despite the fact this year’s Suzuka 8 Hour takes place right in the middle of the MotoGP summer break. But if there was a year for MotoGP riders to compete, this is it.
Augusto Fernandez to Debut with Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP at the GP of the Americas, Replacing Injured Miguel Oliveira
Following an injury to his left sternoclavicular joint sustained in a crash during the Sprint Race at the Argentina GP, Miguel Oliveira will be forced to miss the third round of the MotoGP World Championship, scheduled for next week at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Replacing him will be Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Rider Augusto Fernandez.
20th March 2025
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider Miguel Oliveira will not take part in the GP of the Americas, set for the weekend of March 30 in Austin, Texas, due to the injury he suffered in a crash caused by another rider on lap 5 of the Sprint Race on Saturday at the Argentina GP.
Initial medical examinations at the circuit‘s medical center in Termas de Rio Hondo ruled out fractures but confirmed a significant sternoclavicular contusion and a large hematoma. Forced to miss the GP, Miguel returned to Portugal on Sunday for further medical assessments, which revealed a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint along with ligament involvement.
In the coming days, Oliveira will undergo additional examinations to monitor his progress.
Stepping in for Miguel at the GP of the Americas and representing Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP aboard the YZR-M1 will be 27-year-old Madrid native and 2022 Moto2 World Champion, Augusto Fernandez, who is serving as a Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Rider this season.
The entire Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team wishes Miguel a full and speedy recovery and warmly welcomes Augusto to the team.
GINO BORSOI
Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP
“I am really sorry for the injury Miguel has suffered, especially at a time in the season when he was gaining more and more confidence with his YZR-M1 and the team. Unfortunately, luck hasn‘t been much on his side in recent years, but knowing him, I am sure he will react like the true fighter he is and come back strong and motivated as before. The most important thing right now is that he receives the best possible treatment and can return to the track as soon as possible. As for Augusto, welcome to our team! Despite the short notice, I am confident that we will be able to do a great job together, with the entire Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team ready to support him at all times.”
MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider
“First of all, I want to thank the team and the doctors who treated me. After returning home, I had an MRI that detected a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint with ligament rupture. Obviously, we discussed the fastest recovery options, and it was decided to keep the arm immobilised for some time. The time of return is unpredictable because we have to await my body’s biological response. We will evaluate every week how the situation is. We are working on returning to the track as soon as possible, but above that we will focus on my recovery and getting back to 100% fitness.”
AUGUSTO FERNÁNDEZ
Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Test Rider
“First of all, I want to send Miguel my best wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope he can be back soon. I also want to thank Yamaha and Pramac for this opportunity. Austin is an awesome track, and I can‘t wait to be back riding the M1. I am really looking forward to starting the race weekend.”
Jason O’Halloran to Race for Pata Maxus Yamaha in Portimão
Jason O’Halloran will stand in for the injured Jonathan Rea in the Pata Maxus Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team for the second round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão next weekend.
The Australian rider joined the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team for 2025 and is also set to begin a role as Yamaha’s WorldSBK test rider.
Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP test rider, Augusto Fernandez, who was initially slated to replace Rea in Portimão, has been called back to his GP duties as a replacement for Miguel Oliveira at Prima Pramac Yamaha for the U.S. Grand Prix, which takes place on the same weekend as Portimão.
O’Halloran is no stranger to Yamaha having spent five seasons aboard an R1 in the British Superbike Championship from 2019-2023, achieving 26 victories in this period to become Yamaha’s most successful rider in the British Championship in terms of race wins and establish himself as a regular title contender.
He has undergone several winter tests with the YART EWC team in recent months, where his speed has impressed as the team prepare for their 2025 season which kicks off at Le Mans next month.
O’Halloran will get his first taste of the R1 WorldSBK in Free Practice on Friday 28th March as the second round of the championship gets underway on the Algarve.
Jason O’Halloran – Pata Maxus Yamaha
“I’m excited to get the opportunity to ride for the Pata Maxus Yamaha team in Portimão while Jonathan continues to recover. I have really enjoyed being back on the R1 in pre-season testing with YART, it’s a bike I’ve always gelled well with, and I had a lot of success with the R1 in BSB, so to try it in full WorldSBK spec is something I’m looking forward to. Of course, heading into a race weekend with no testing is jumping in at the deep end a little bit but I will give it my best for the team and for Yamaha while also remembering that the EWC season starts in just a few weeks! I’d like to thank Yamaha and the team for the opportunity and to wish Jonathan a speedy recovery.”
Niccolò Canepa – Road Racing Sporting Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe
“We are really happy to welcome Jason to the Pata Maxus Yamaha team in WorldSBK. He is currently our EWC rider and is also our WorldSBK test rider, but he has not had the chance to ride the bike yet! The Portimão weekend will be a good opportunity to get a first touch of the bike together with our competitors to understand the bike’s level so he can contribute to our development work as we continue to look to improve. Of course we all know Jason’s speed, he is the most victorious rider for Yamaha in BSB and knows the R1 well in BSB spec, which is very similar to WorldSBK spec, and he also knows the Pirelli tyres. He has been extremely fast in the winter tests with the EWC YART bike so I believe he will have a good race weekend. We are very close to the Le Mans test and race so thanks to YART for allowing us to borrow Jason in this very busy period for them.”
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