Jorge Martin is fighting desperation as the German Grand Prix looms, after a disappointing home loss at the Sachsenring.
Despite his leadership in MotoGP points and the promise shown at the 2025 French GP, Martin failed to capture the same form in the German sprint races, late‑stage qualification and Saturday’s Q2 session.
On Friday, the rider found himself the slowest among Aprilia’s four representatives, a pattern that mirrors his other spring races where the factory’s rivals each clinched a sprint victory.
Performance at Sachsenring
Friday’s slow starts were attributed in part to Martin’s limited familiarity with the Sachsenring circuit, a factor he noticed in comparison to his 2025 experience.
“I always feel a step behind on Fridays because I never rode here with Aprilia,” Martin stated. “The gaps were noticeable last time as well.”
Technical Setbacks
The rider commented on handling woes, saying “I am still a bit far from the fight for victory. The rear grip is lacking and the front loses stability on the edges of corners.”
He added that these deficiencies leave Martin “no strong point” at present, undermining his pursuit of a podium placement.
Future Outlook
While Martin accepted that the slump runs deeper than a few missed races, he remains determined, saying, “I just go and do my best, but if we continue like this it will be a difficult race.”
He also acknowledged that Aprilia must sustain pressure on rivals, noting Ducati’s back‑lash after an early‑season dominance and the improvement of other manufacturers.
“The rest of the pack, including Ducati, improved a lot. If we don’t stay on that line we get left behind,” Martin claimed.
Martin’s focus remains on incremental improvement, hoping for a rebound that could bring him to the podium “at the moment” and eventually back to the standing of the Le Mans‑style prize he once captured.
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