JORGE MARTIN PREPARES TO SETTLE JAPANESE GP PENALTY IN VALENCIA
Jorge Martin has been handed a Double Long Lap Penalty for causing a crash at the Japanese GP. The Aprilia rider must serve it in Valencia or, if unfit, it will carry over to the 2026 season opener.
Martin to Face Valencia Race Penalty After Japanese GP Incident - Photo Credit: AFP
Jorge Martin was penalised by the FIM MotoGP Stewards for the incident he created during the Japanese Grand Prix.
This weekend, Jorge Martin will compete in the final round of the 2025 Championship in MotoGP. He will have to serve a punishment, though.
Since suffering a displaced fracture to his collarbone at the Japanese Grand Prix, the 2024 MotoGP World Champion has been sidelined.
After colliding with his Aprilia Racing teammate Marco Bezzecchi at Turn One of the Sprint Race at the Twin Ring Motegi, Martin suffered a shattered collarbone.
Almost two months after the event occurred, the Spaniard might now be punished for his behaviour at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The FIM MotoGP Stewards have given Martin a Double Long Lap Penalty for causing a crash during the Sprint Race at the Japanese Grand Prix.
MotoGP verified Martin's penalty from the Japanese Grand Prix in a social media statement:
"Jorge Martin received a Double Long Lap Penalty from the FIM MotoGP Stewards for causing a crash at the Japanese GP."
The Spaniard will have to serve the penalty during Sunday's Grand Prix if he is deemed fit for this weekend's race. The 27-year-old has previously stated that he intended to "collect knowledge" during the Valencian Grand Prix instead of focusing on outcomes.
The suspension will carry over to the Thai Grand Prix at the beginning of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, though, if he fails medical examinations and is unable to compete in this weekend's season finale.
BEN STOKES FIRES, MARK WOOD FACES WORRY IN ASHES CLASH
England's Ashes plans are dealt a blow as Mark Wood suffers a hamstring injury in the warm-up match. The fast bowler is a major doubt for the first Test, overshadowing Ben Stokes' successful return with the ball.
Mark Wood Suffers While Stokes Dominates Ashes - Photo Credit: Getty Images
Following a hamstring injury sustained on the first day of England's lone pre-series warm-up match, Mark Wood has become a serious doubt for the country's first Ashes Test.
Wood's fitness scare overshadowed what could have been a memorable in-house match against Andrew Flintoff's England Lions at Lilac Hill, where fit-again skipper Ben Stokes took six for 52, demonstrating his ability to lead the battle against Australia.
After undergoing knee surgery, the 35-year-old has been out of action for the past nine months, but there were great expectations that the nation's fastest bowler would recover in time to play in the opening Test on Friday.
Rather, following his second four-over period, Wood pulled up sore, and he is currently awaiting more testing to ascertain the severity of the issue.
According to a representative for the England and Wales Cricket Board, Mark Wood was supposed to bowl eight overs today.
He will have a precautionary scan tomorrow because of some hamstring discomfort that prevented him from playing for a while during the second session of the first day. It is anticipated that he will bowl once again in two days.
Wood has been training with a lot of strapping on his leg after his two possible return dates were postponed, which caused him to miss the full English summer. It would now be a big risk to consider him for the curtain-raiser, even if he could bowl in the second innings.
Following this setback, it seems unlikely that he and fellow speedster Jofra Archer will be released at Optus Stadium on what should be a fast and bouncy pitch across the city.
The Lions were all out for 382 in the last seconds, which was better news for Stokes, who celebrated his own homecoming performance with a glut of wickets. With a steady diet of short-pitched bowling, Stokes, who had not played since injuring a shoulder muscle against India in July, managed to get through 16 overs.
In a display of cunning and endurance, he claimed two wickets per session. He added Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed with bumpers, removed Tom Lawes and Will Jacks in the evening, then claimed Tom Haines and Test hopes Jacob Bethell in the morning session.
Bethell's attempts to unseat Ollie Pope at number three for the first Test may have been dashed when he turned Stokes to square-leg after an unimpressive knock of two off 17 deliveries.
During a weak white-ball series against New Zealand, the younger player's prospects soured, and it most likely took a spectacular innings to turn the tide.
Others were left to seize the chance instead. There were half-centuries for Ben McKinney (67), Cox (53), Thomas Rew (55), Jacks (84) and tailender Matthew Potts (53), on a soft pitch that offered bounce but little genuine threat.
Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, and Archer each took one wicket; Brydon Carse's sickness gave them their opportunity.
In a potential hint to their plans for the first Test, England left spinner Shoaib Bashir out of their starting lineup. However, he will have an opportunity to make an impression on Friday when the Lions bowl in the second innings.
MUTUAL RESPECT: ISLAM MAKHACHEV HAILS SEAN BRADY AHEAD OF UFC 322
Islam Makhachev praises Sean Brady ahead of UFC 322, calling him a tough fighter with a similar wrestling style. Makhachev says a potential future fight with the welterweight contender would be a difficult battle.
Sean Brady - Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Islam Makhachev has praised Sean Brady, a UFC welterweight contender, ahead of this weekend's UFC 322.
Sean Brady will look to solidify his position as a leading contender for a UFC welterweight title opportunity on Saturday night. The unbeaten Michael Morales, who has so far in his career impressed many with his ability to destroy everyone the UFC has put in front of him, will be his opponent. Naturally, Sean is currently enjoying some success of his own.
Brady truly made a name for himself in his most recent fight when he defeated and submitted former world champion Leon Edwards. It would be difficult to argue that he does not earn a chance to face the winner of the UFC 322 main event between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena if he can deliver a performance like that here.
Islam Makhachev, one of the men who fought in that battle, recently praised Brady and implied that if the two ever met inside the Octagon, it would be a difficult battle.
Before UFC 322, Makhachev gave Brady high marks.
"Sean Brady appeals to me. On Adin Ross' live webcast, Makhachev remarked, "I like his manner." He is really tough. I am aware that it will be a difficult battle if we ever cross paths. Our wrestling styles are nearly identical. He exerts good pressure. He will defeat Morales if he is in good physical condition.