July 19 (Reuters) – Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Martin stated he was glad to be again on the race observe on the Czech Republic bike Grand Prix after lacking 10 of the 11 rounds due to accidents.
Wrist and ankle accidents suffered in a pre-season crash dominated the 27-year-old Spaniard out of the primary three rounds earlier than one other crash in his first race on board the Aprilia bike in Qatar in April led to a collapsed lung and bruised ribs.
He marked his comeback with a powerful fifth place end on the Czech MotoGP observe in Brno on Friday.
“I miss this sense so much and simply targeted,” Martin informed reporters. “It was a extremely demanding day, having all these circumstances on observe. We needed to be at all times actually targeted.
“The dry line was actually slim in some corners so it was troublesome to be constant. I missed the consistency by being out for lots of months.
“It was actually emotional after ending within the prime 5, not due to the outcome itself, however as a result of I’m again. I did an awesome job at this time. I’m actually glad.”
Friday’s observe session was Martin’s first time on the Aprilia within the rain.
Martin received his first MotoGP title final season with Pramac Racing earlier than transferring to Aprilia.
“I can’t be actually optimistic after I go into the corners as a result of I do not know what will occur,” he stated. “So I want to start out feeling the issues, however as quickly as I placed on some extra tyres, I used to be at all times within the prime 4, prime 5.”
The Czech MotoGP qualifying takes place in a while Saturday, with the race taking place on Sunday.
Six-times MotoGP champion Marc Marquez leads the riders’ championship desk with 344 factors, together with his youthful brother Alex second on 261. (Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Goa; Modifying by Clarence Fernandez)