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Jorge Martin Praises Aprilia’s Evolution Ahead of New Season
MotoGP champion Jorge Martin has expressed strong confidence in Aprilia’s advancements, particularly highlighting what he calls the “biggest” strides made with their 2025 racing prototype. Martin, who secured his first title with Pramac Ducati, is set to join Aprilia for the upcoming season, receiving a promotion after Marc Marquez was preferred for a factory team position.
The Spanish rider experienced his initial encounter with the Aprilia machine during the post-season test in Barcelona, where he completed an impressive 77 laps and finished just one second behind the quickest time set by Alex Marquez. While Martin is restricted from discussing specific details of the bike until the start of the new year due to contractual obligations, he described Aprilia’s progress as remarkable.
“I can’t reveal much about the motorcycle, but the joy on my face during the test was evident to those present,” Martin shared with Motorsport.com. “I feel a genuine happiness riding with Aprilia, perhaps more than I could find elsewhere.”
He further noted, “The new package is particularly intriguing, and the progress the bike has made is unparalleled in recent times. Its potential is considerable, and the outlook appears promising.”
The version of the bike Martin tested at Barcelona was an early model, which is expected to be refined for the upcoming pre-season tests in Sepang set for early February. Aprilia’s decision to bring Martin on board comes after a strategic overhaul within the organization aimed at bridging the gap to Ducati, which has dominated the sport recently, achieving 19 victories out of 20 possible in 2024.
“Aprilia’s dedication to improvement has been apparent, and I’ve witnessed this commitment firsthand,” Martin remarked. “They genuinely care about my success and are fully aware of the responsibility that comes with having the reigning champion on their team.”
Despite Aprilia’s overall ambition to claim victory in the championship, Martin emphasized the necessity of establishing a coherent strategy and effective collaboration within the team to reach this goal.
When questioned about Aprilia’s decline in performance during the latter half of the 2024 season, Martin admitted he could not pinpoint the reasons. “This year started exceptionally well for Aprilia, but we did see a downturn post-Aragon. It’s challenging to ascertain the exact factors when you’re not internally involved,” he explained.
Martin further illustrated the unpredictability of performance in MotoGP, referencing Maverick’s significant contrast in results between the Austin race, where he won, and Jerez, where he fell more than 11 seconds behind. “It’s perplexing how a competitor can excel in one race and struggle tremendously in the next,” Martin concluded.
As Aprilia prepares for the next season, they remain determined to leverage Martin’s championship experience to reach new competitive heights.
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