Jorge Martin sees himself as the ‘improved’ version of one MotoGP legend who never won a title

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Jorge Martin has identified himself as the improved version of one MotoGP legend who spent 15 years as a premier class rider but never managed to bag himself a world championship.

The Spaniard wrote his name into the history books last season as he became the first rider in the MotoGP era to win a title as part of a satellite team.

Martin achieved the feat as a rider for Pramac Racing, winning three Grands Prix and making 16 podium appearances on his way to beating Francesco Bagnaia to the title by just 10 points.

With Pramac looking to change their bike supplier from Ducati to Yamaha for the 2025 campaign, Martin became a man in demand.

The factory Ducati team opted to sign Marc Marquez to a factory contract over the Madrid native, and so Aprilia emerged successful in securing Martin’s talents.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend

Jorge Martin considers himself to be an ‘improved’ version of MotoGP legend Aleix Espargaro

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Martin opened up about a character within his inner circle who has had a big impact on his premier class career: Aleix Espargaro.

Espargaro spent 15 years as a full-time rider in the premier class, notching 3 Grand Prix victories as well as 11 podiums. The Spanish rider is one of the most experienced riders ever, and holds the second most amount of entries in the premier class, behind Valentino Rossi.

Asked about the influence Espargaro has had on him, Martin replied, “A lot. Aleix has a lot of influence on my life, I consider myself an improved ‘mini Aleix’.

“I think he tells me that, he says ‘you’re an improved me’, because he is perhaps, I’m not talking to you on a professional level, I’m talking to you on a personal level, very exaggerated, very black and white, I’m perhaps a little more neutral.

“I think we help each other a lot in our lives, in our day-to-day lives, in the bad times. If I fall, he’s the first person I call. If he falls the next day on his bike, he’s the first to call me.

“I learn a lot from him, his lifestyle, his way of being happy, it’s admirable, how he’s always able to see the good side of things. I’m a little more negative and I hope that he also learns things from me as I learn from him.”

Espargaro was vocal about Martin’s chances for the 2025 MotoGP title, believing in the Spanish rider, even when he didn’t believe in himself. The words from the former MotoGP rider came before Martin suffered from his near-career-ending crashes in Sepang and Lusail.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Aprilia from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy

How has Jorge Martin fared since his return from injury?

Martin returned to action at the Czech Republic Grand Prix in July. The race also marked the site of Martin’s official backing down from his contract dispute with Aprilia.

The reigning world champion achieved a very respectable seventh-place finish in his return to the track, with Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi showing what the bike is capable of as he finished second behind Marc Marquez.

Martin has finished within the points in all but one of his Grand Prix appearances since the return, with a retirement at the Austrian Grand Prix being the only blot on his record at the moment.

His best result of the season so far came at the following race in Hungary. The ‘Martinator’ finished fourth, four seconds off Bezzecchi, who clinched the final spot on the podium alongside Marquez and Pedro Acosta.

Whilst his results have been a far cry from his championship-winning form of 2024, they have been impressive considering he missed the first half of the season. The Spanish rider will have his eyes set on finishing out the season strong and taking a fight for the championship with Marquez next season.