MOTOGP 2025: A SEASON DEFINED BY INJURIES
The 2025 MotoGP season so far has been full of excitement — but for all the wrong reasons. With injuries affecting nearly every team, this year might go down as the most brutal in MotoGP history.
Fans have watched in disbelief as top riders crash out, suffer serious injuries, and miss race after race. But is this just a streak of bad luck, or something more?
A Season full of injuries
One of the most shocking stories this season is Jorge Martín, the 2024 world champion. His problems began in pre-season testing at Sepang, where he crashed and broke bones in his hand and foot. Only weeks later, he injured his wrist and heel — requiring surgery before the season even started. Just when it looked like he was ready to return, disaster hit him again.
At the Qatar Grand Prix, Martín suffered a violent crash that left him with 11 fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. He was rushed to the hospital and was forced to miss even more races. So far, he has only started two races out of the first twelve. For a defending champion, that’s a shocking statistic.
But it’s not just Martín. The Honda team has been hit harder than anyone. At one point this season, four of their riders were injured at the same time.
Luca Marini suffered a dislocated hip, torn knee ligaments, and fractured his sternum and collarbone during testing in Japan.
Takaaki Nakagami and Somkiat Chantra also have picked up injuries this season. Even the rider they brought in to help — Iker Lecuona — broke his forearm just days after joining the team.
Across the paddock, others like Fabio Di Giannantonio, Raúl Fernández, and Aleix Espargaró have all missed time with crashes and injuries.
Crashes are on the Rise
The number of crashes this year is unlike anything seen recently. Riders like Johann Zarco and Joan Mir have already crashed 15 times each. Brad Binder and Álex Márquez aren’t far behind, both with over 13 crashes. At the Le Mans GP, there were 70 crashes in one weekend — a new record. That number is shocking and speaks to how dangerous this season has been. Many of these crashes have led to broken bones, surgeries, and long recovery times.
Worse than previous years?
In past MotoGP seasons, about 5% of riders missed races due to injury. In 2023, that number jumped to almost 16%. This year, it could be even higher. Not just because of the number of crashes, but because the injuries are more serious and more riders are affected.
Even seasons like 2020 — when Marc Márquez missed nearly the whole year — didn’t have this widespread impact across the entire grid.
A Season to Forget?
MotoGP has always been dangerous. Crashes are part of the sport. But 2025 feels different. Too many riders are getting hurt. Too many races are being missed. And the championship battle has been deeply affected.
Fans, teams, and the sport itself are now asking big questions: Is the racing too aggressive? Are the bikes too powerful? Is the calendar too intense?
2025 might be remembered not for the racing — but for the riders who couldn’t race.
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