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Martin to ride with broken wrist in Malaysian MotoGP practice / Photo: © AFP
Martin to ride with broken wrist in Malaysian MotoGP practice
Championship-chasing Jorge Martin will risk racing with a broken wrist in Friday's opening practice for the Malaysian MotoGP.
The Aprilia rider trails Spanish compatriot Marc Marquez by 10 points at the top of the standings with four race weekends to go, starting at Sepang.
Martin fractured his wrist crashing during a sprint duel with Marquez last weekend at Phillip Island.
Marquez won the sprint for Ducati and could have amassed an even bigger lead had Sunday's main race in Australia not been called because of bad weather.
Martin will participate in Friday's first practice session to assess if he can compete in Sepang over the weekend.
"If I wasn't in the championship fight I'd have my arm in a cast," said Martin.
"I feel grateful to be here, to be able to try after only five days since I broke my radius," he told reporters.
Marquez is happy to see Martin racing.
"If Martin is on the race track he will be fast," said the reigning MotoGP champion and current leader.
Italian Marco Bezzecchi lies 50 points adrift of Marquez in the standings and is aware his challenge is a tough one.
"It's clear that if I want to try to stay in the fight I have to try to not lose many points. It won't be easy because everyone is super quick. I have to be competitive and try to fight for those positions," he said.
Unpredictable conditions at the Sepang circuit will test the riders.
Torrential rain and suffocating humidity are expected throughout the race weekend.
O.Kwon--SG
