Jorge Martin Fears Losing One of His Biggest Weapons to Adapt to Aprilia

The reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin is facing one of the toughest challenges of his career as he adapts to life as an Aprilia rider in 2025. After years of mastering Ducati machinery with Pramac, the Spaniard’s switch to the RS-GP25 has been anything but straightforward, compounded by a difficult start to the season marred by injuries. Now, even though Martin has overcome those setbacks, he admits he may have to sacrifice one of his biggest riding strengths—his powerful braking style—to unlock Aprilia’s full potential.

Injury-Plagued Start to a New Chapter

Martin’s move to Aprilia was one of the biggest stories of the 2025 season. Coming off his championship-winning campaign, expectations were sky-high. However, the transition was almost immediately derailed when Martin fractured his left hand during pre-season and later endured a horrific crash in Qatar that left him with 11 broken ribs and a hemopneumothorax.

Those injuries sidelined him for a significant portion of the early season, delaying his adaptation to the RS-GP25. By the time he returned before the summer break, Martin was playing catch-up against both his rivals and his teammate Marco Bezzecchi, who had already secured pole positions and strong finishes for Aprilia.

Signs of Progress but Persistent Qualifying Struggles

Since his return, Martin has shown glimpses of form, scoring a P4 at the Hungarian Grand Prix and finishing consistently inside the top 10 in recent Sprints and main races. However, his qualifying pace has remained a glaring weakness. For a rider with 20 career MotoGP pole positions, the fact that he has yet to start inside the top 10 for Aprilia is both surprising and frustrating.

His qualifying results so far in 2025 paint a worrying picture:

• Qatar GP – P14 (+1.156s off pole)

• Czech GP – P12 (+1.311s off pole)

• Austrian GP – P14 (+0.604s off pole)

• Hungarian GP – P17 (+0.860s off pole)

• Catalan GP – P18 (+0.869s off pole)

In contrast, Bezzecchi managed to put the RS-GP25 on pole in Austria, proving the bike has the potential for one-lap speed. For Martin, the issue lies in how his natural strengths as a rider mesh with the bike’s demands.

Braking Strength Becoming a Weakness

Martin has always been known as one of MotoGP’s most aggressive and effective late-brakers. It was a weapon that served him brilliantly on Ducati, allowing him to dive into corners with supreme confidence and outmuscle rivals in overtaking situations. But on the Aprilia RS-GP25, that strength is turning into a limitation.

“I feel I’m very, very strong in braking with Aprilia. Maybe too much,” Martin admitted. “I can overtake riders, but I need a bit of speed elsewhere. There’s always a balance, a compromise. Now, I have to lose a bit of braking and gain in other parts.”

By pushing the RS-GP25 so hard into corners during qualifying laps, Martin compromises traction and stability when trying to accelerate out. That lack of balance costs him precious tenths, which are amplified in the ultra-close world of MotoGP qualifying.

Valuable Feedback for Aprilia Development

Despite his struggles, Martin’s aggressive riding has already given Aprilia valuable insights. At Balaton Park, his braking feedback proved instrumental in the team’s improvements for the Hungarian GP, where Bezzecchi finished third and Martin came home fourth. Aprilia team director Paolo Bonora praised Martin’s input, emphasizing how his perspective is helping the team refine the RS-GP25.

This dual role as both competitor and development leader is something Martin is embracing. Yet, as he prepares for his first home race with Aprilia at Misano, he knows his personal results will depend on finding the right compromise between his style and the bike’s strengths.

Misano and the Challenge Ahead

The San Marino Grand Prix at Misano is a critical test for Martin. The Rimini circuit is known for its stop-start layout, which places huge emphasis on traction out of slower corners. If Martin continues to over-rely on his braking power, he risks losing crucial time when it matters most during qualifying.

Starting deep in the pack has already made life difficult for him in both Sprints and Grands Prix. In a field where overtaking is increasingly challenging due to aerodynamic developments, grid position has become more important than ever. Unless Martin can adapt his style, he will continue to face uphill battles on Sundays.

A Test of Adaptability for a Champion

For Jorge Martin, this season is about more than just results—it is about proving his adaptability. Many champions have faced similar challenges when switching manufacturers, from Valentino Rossi’s move to Ducati to Andrea Dovizioso’s struggles with Yamaha. Martin’s situation is unique in that he must learn to dial back one of his greatest weapons to unlock a new strength.

It is a delicate balancing act: reduce his reliance on braking without losing the edge that made him a champion. If he can find that sweet spot, Aprilia could have a title contender on its hands again. If not, his first season with the Italian marque may be remembered as one of frustration.

Conclusion

Jorge Martin’s transition to Aprilia is proving to be one of the defining storylines of the 2025 MotoGP season. His injuries, combined with the learning curve of the RS-GP25, have tested his resilience and adaptability. Now, as he admits he must “lose” part of his braking strength to unlock qualifying performance, Martin faces the ultimate rider’s challenge: evolving his style to suit the machine beneath him.

At Misano, the pressure will be on to demonstrate progress. For a rider of Martin’s caliber, compromise may be the key to unlocking his next chapter of success.