Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin is days away from finally making his MotoGP return after three months away from the sport, recovering from an ugly crash at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The reigning champion has been one of the unluckiest individuals in the paddock in 2025, suffering damage in three separate incidents that have thwarted his ability to race for Aprilia.
The Noale-based manufacturer had high hopes about fielding the number one bike, but suffered a bit of a hangover from the start of the MotoGP season.
Only recently have they started to hit their stride, just in time for Martin’s return, and enough to convince him to remain with them in the future.
Aprilia will love what Martin told his agent after a test at Mugello, suggesting that their bike is now in a better place than it was.
The most confusing thing in recent weeks has been Martin’s 2026 contract U-turn. It means all the chaos can be put behind him, and work can begin on the future.
READ MORE: Marco Bezzecchi makes ‘fantastic’ Jorge Martin comment ahead of his Aprilia MotoGP return
Marco Bezzecchi adds pressure to Jorge Martin’s MotoGP return after calling Aprilia ‘strong’
Honda spent weeks trying to sign Martin before he settled on Aprilia in 2024. It followed Ducati’s somewhat surprising decision not to promote him to their factory team.
Pre-season testing at Sepang was filled with a buzz about his new team, but he lasted laps before crashing and hurting his wrist. He returned months later in Qatar and crashed again.
Finally, it appears that he’s ready to get back on a bike just before the summer break, with teammate Marco Bezzecchi putting some pressure on his shoulders.
“Today, certainly, especially now, a bit of sadness prevails. I have to say it’s a 60 and 40, sixty sadness and bitterness in the mouth and forty… taking into account all the positives there are,” he told Mowmag.
“Tomorrow, when maybe I’ve felt better a bit, or even the day after tomorrow, the percentages will have reversed. Today it could have been a little more, but come on… in the meantime, we were up there and that’s important. It certainly hurts, but we’re strong.”
READ MORE: What Massimo Rivola privately said to Honda before Jorge Martin agreed to stay at Aprilia
How does Jorge Martin usually fare at the Czech Republic Grand Prix?
There are no guarantees that Martin will officially return to competitive action in Brno, as he needs the relevant clearance from doctors.
However, it’s likely, considering he has earmarked this date for months. He’s mentally ready to start competing again.
Fascinatingly, Martin has never competed at Brno in MotoGP, after it dropped off the calendar in 2020.
He did compete there twice in Moto2, finishing 13th in 2019 and eighth in 2020, suggesting that it may not be his strongest of tracks.
In his final two years in Moto3 (2017 and 2018), he missed the event, but he did manage a second place in 2016. That’s nearly 10 years ago now, so it isn’t much of an indication.
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