The Japan Times - Champion Martin eyes Qatar return as 'bitter' Marc Marquez seeks redemption

Aprilia's Martin broke his right hand and foot in a crash during the opening day of pre-season testing in Malaysia in February, and missed the first three races of the season.

"Physically, I'm not even sure I'll be able to finish the race," said Martin. "But if we can manage, it will be a victory because that will mean that I'm beginning to recover."

Meanwhile fellow Spaniard Marc Marquez will be looking to get back on track after a crash in the USA MotoGP in Austin scuppered his perfect start to the season.

Forced to retire in the main race, the Ducati rider lost top spot in the world championship standings in the process.

Starting from pole position, Marquez had won the sprint race and looked to be heading for his sixth victory in as many races this season before suffering his first setback of the year.

"Ending a near-perfect weekend with this crash inevitably leaves a bitter taste," Marquez, 32, said this week.

The mistake cost him the overall lead to his 28-year-old brother Alex Marquez.

The younger of the Marquez siblings, who has yet to win a Grand Prix in the top class, has a one-point lead with 87 points.

Two-time MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia, who took advantage of teammate Marc Marquez's crash to win his first race of the season in Austin, is third with 75 points.

The Italian, who was expected at the start of the year to be Marc Marquez's leading rival on the bike considered the most powerful on the grid, has so far struggled to challenge the Spaniard's dominance.

He will now be hoping to back up his Austin win at the Lusail circuit where he won last year.

- Martin 'not 100%' -

Martin, 27, who moved to Aprilia in the off-season after winning the world title with Ducati-Pramac, was injured in February, before the year's opening race in Thailand.

"I don't know how my physical fitness will be –- undoubtedly not 100 percent," he admitted earlier this week.

His participation remains subject to medical approval, with a decision expected later Thursday.

After missing the first three races, the Spaniard already has little chance of retaining his title.

In the riders' championship, Ducati hold the top five places overall and the top rider competing for another manufacturer is 24-year-old Japanese Ai Ogura (Aprilia-Trackhouse) in sixth.

He sits ahead of veteran Frenchman Johann Zarco (Honda-LCR), in seventh and the highest-placed Honda rider overall.

The Qatar GP, which traditionally opens the MotoGP season in March, has been postponed to April due to Ramadan.

The temperature is expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius during the daytime.

The main race will start at 8:00pm local time (1700GMT) on Sunday for the only night event on the calendar.

H.Hayashi--JT