​Jorge Martin is fighting to stay hopeful about ending a small victory drought in time for this weekend’s German Grand Prix. After a breakthrough moment where he looked set to spearhead Aprilia’s 2026 challenge by winning the French Grand Prix in May, the factory rider has been unable to recapture that form. Although he advanced to Saturday’s Q2 at the Sachsenring, he finished Friday as the slowest of the four Aprilia riders. This has become a recurring pattern, with each of the other three Aprilia riders securing at least a sprint victory since his standout Le Mans performance.
“On Fridays, I always feel like we are a step behind because I never rode here with Aprilia,” he said. “So I always feel it, and it was a big difference compared to the last time here.” While the slow starts are understandable given that Martin missed most of the 2025 races due to injury, he insists the current downturn runs deeper than that.
“I am still a bit far from the fight for victory. I think for the podium we are a bit in the mix, but we need to make an effort. At the moment, I feel no rear grip and the front is moving a lot on the edge of the corner, so I have no strong point at the moment,” Martin, of the Aprilia Racing Team, explained. “I just go and do my best, but if we continue like this it will be a difficult race. But I really hope that we will find something that will help me for the podium.”
For Martin, the objective remains clear: keep improving his feel. He acknowledged that he had a strong first part of the season, a period from which he had reason to be optimistic, but he now feels they are somewhat distant from the kind of results that saw him triumph at Le Mans or in other races. “My target is always to improve and improve, and now I feel we are a bit far away from the victory at Le Mans or from other races,” he added.
The pressure on Aprilia continues as the team watches rivals like Ducati strengthen their performance. Martin emphasized the need for his team to sustain their momentum, recognizing that if Aprilia does not press forward, they risk falling behind the competition. He noted that Ducati had made significant gains and that other brands were also closing the gap, underscoring the importance of maintaining progress to stay competitive.
“With the rest of the field, let’s say Ducati, improving a lot, and other brands also showing improvements, we need to maintain that trajectory,” he said. “If not, you get behind.” The German Grand Prix promises to be another test of Aprilia’s resilience as Martin seeks to recapture the momentum that briefly defined his season, while the team continues to chase improvements that could turn the tide in their favor.
As MotoGP heads into the German GP weekend, Martin remains focused on his immediate goal: improving his feeling on the bike, maximizing performance where possible, and edging closer to a podium finish. The journey toward reclaiming the early-season promise won’t be straightforward, but Martin’s determination remains evident as he works to translate potential into results on race day. For readers seeking more details and insights from the sport, Motorsport.com’s continued coverage offers in-depth analyses and updates on the ongoing developments at the German Grand Prix and beyond.