Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin performed admirably last season to clinch his first championship in the premier class after a battle with Francesco Bagnaia.
The Spaniard won the title in the final round of the season after Martin’s third-place finish at the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona was enough to take the championship.
Martin was very consistent over the year, taking just three wins but only failing to finish outside the top four on three occasions.
He has now joined the Aprilia MotoGP team after moving from Pramac Racing, where Martin enjoyed so much success riding a satellite Ducati.
Aprilia struggled last year and were a long way behind the factory Ducati crew and Pramac in the teams’ standings, which may make life difficult for the reigning champion as Martin adjusts to his new role.
Martin also admits moving to Aprilia may limit his title aspirations after revealing when the Spaniard feels he will be in a position to challenge for another MotoGP championship.
Jorge Martin feels the MotoGP title is out of reach until ‘maybe 2026’
Aprilia struggled last season as riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales only scored one victory between them through the latter at the Circuit of the Americas.
It will be a very different experience for Martin, who spent 2024 consistently at the front fighting for wins, and the margins being so fine.
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Martin explained he is facing a significant challenge to help Aprilia catch the Ducati bikes and will be pleased if the season kicks off with finishes in the top five.
He told the Tengo Un Plan podcast: “The challenge is enormous because I am riding a bike that I don’t know if it has finished eighth or ninth, against a bike that has finished first, second, third and fourth, which is the Ducati.
“If I start with fifth positions and end up winning races, I will be very proud, or second places. The important thing is to move forward.
“So, of course, taking the Aprilia and taking it to that group is not going to be easy, and I know that. So, my goal is not at all to win the world championship this year.
“Maybe in 2026, I can think more about that, to try to fight for the championship. But, right now, it is about seeing how I am, giving my best and seeing what happens.”
Martin needs to maintain his consistency while adjusting to likely fighting further towards the midfield again as mistakes will halt his and Aprilia’s momentum.
Jorge Martin’s experience in MotoGP’s midfield may help at Aprilia
Martin has been blisteringly fast since his debut in MotoGP but especially over the past couple of seasons after battling for the title. Yet the early part of his premier class career was far from as smooth.
A huge crash at the Grand Prix of Portugal forced Martin to miss multiple races after requiring surgery. He then initially struggled to recapture Martin’s early pace which secured a podium in Qatar in just his second race.
While Martin would also go on to claim his first MotoGP race win at the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix, his form continued to stutter with four retirements and multiple finishes in the lower points-scoring places.
The midfield can be all about management and maximising the bike’s performance. Martin’s experience should help him in 2025, as he knows how to deal with scrapping for just a few points over a race distance.
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