Jorge Martin has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix at the minimum, putting his Moto2 title hopes in doubt.
As first reported by Spanish publication AS, Martin underwent a typical Covid test several days ago and tested positive-ruling him out for the first Misano race weekend, while his participation in next week’s event rests on whether he can achieve a negative test in the days running up to the Emilia Romagna GP.
The ’18 Moto3 world champion will remain in quarantine until then, meaning he could suffer irreparable damage to his intermediate class championship charge in the interim.
The Spaniard currently sits third overall, just eight points back from leader Luca Marini and level on points with Enea Bastianini after six rounds of the 2020 series.
Martin was the man with the momentum heading to the Italian double-header, having scored a debut Moto2 victory at the Austrian GP before backing this up with a runners-up result at the same Red Bull Ring venue just a week later.
He is also due to be announced as a Pramac Ducati rider next year in the not-too-distant future, with the main question mark at this juncture regarding his team-mate-set to be whoever fails to capture the vacant factory Ducati berth between the incumbent Francesco Bagnaia or Avintia’s Johann Zarco.
Martin is the third member of the MotoGP paddock to test positive for Covid-19 so far, following a Dorna video operator as well as Red Bull Rookies pilot Matteo Bertelle.
Martin’s positive diagnosis is worrying news for the rest of the paddock, raising questions over whether any other riders or personnel could contract the virus.
