Jorge Martin Stuns the Paddock With Surprising Aprilia Breakthrough at Misano

Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin believes he has taken a major step forward in adapting to his new Aprilia RS-GP after a productive post-race test at Misano. Following months of struggles caused by injuries and limited track time, Martin says the “big work” in finding comfort and confidence with the Aprilia is now largely complete. The Spaniard left the Italian circuit encouraged, claiming he is now operating at “around 80%” of his full potential on the bike.

Building Confidence After Injury Setbacks

Martin’s 2025 season has been heavily disrupted by injury, which has forced him to treat many of his race weekends as extended test sessions rather than full competitive outings. After returning from a long absence at the Czech Grand Prix, the world champion admitted he was far from his best form. The limited mileage meant Martin was still learning the intricacies of the RS-GP long after his rivals had accumulated race data.

The Misano test, therefore, represented an important opportunity for Martin to work through adjustments without the pressure of a Grand Prix weekend. The Spaniard was able to focus purely on ergonomics, comfort, and set-up, rather than chasing lap times. Despite suffering a crash during the day, he ended the test ninth overall and, more importantly, reported a clear improvement in his ability to control the Aprilia.

Ergonomic Adjustments Bring a Major Step

A key focus for Martin at Misano was handlebar positioning. The reigning champion revealed he experimented with different setups during the Austrian Grand Prix, but felt the race environment made it too difficult to properly evaluate the changes.

“At a race weekend, it’s really tough to understand whether it’s good or not,” Martin explained. “It was a doubt, so we said, ‘ok, we’ll take it out’. And finally here straight when I put them same as Marco [Bezzecchi], I felt a big step in terms of control of the bike, handling of the bike. It got less physical also, which is really important because throughout the race it’s important to keep a good pace.”

This change not only gave him more control of the Aprilia RS-GP, but also reduced the physical strain of racing, allowing him to ride at a consistent level for longer stints. For a rider still regaining full fitness, this was a crucial breakthrough.

Learning from Marco Bezzecchi’s Set-Up

Another significant development from the Misano test was Martin’s decision to align his bike’s ergonomics more closely with teammate Marco Bezzecchi’s setup. While the two riders still have slight differences—Martin noted that his handlebars are positioned slightly higher—the similarities are giving him more confidence.

“The ergonomics, I’m now closer to his bike,” Martin said. “And I feel stronger on the bike. Also, we changed a bit the length of the swingarm. He was a bit longer and it seems it’s working better here. The next races we don’t know, because at Balaton it was much shorter and I felt super. So, it depends on the track. But the most important thing, the base on the front, the position of the bike, feels every time better and every lap I do everything is a bit more comfortable.”

By mirroring aspects of Bezzecchi’s machine, Martin has accelerated his own adaptation process. With both riders working together, Aprilia can collect more reliable data and refine the RS-GP’s competitiveness across different circuits.

From 60% to 80% of His Potential

Perhaps the most telling sign of progress is Martin’s own assessment of his current performance level. After admitting he was operating at just “60%” of his limit during the Misano race weekend, the Spaniard now feels closer to “75-80%” following the test.

“I can still not push the bike 100%, but we are making big steps forward,” he acknowledged. This shift highlights not just improved ergonomics, but also a deeper trust in the Aprilia’s handling and electronic systems. Martin emphasized that his crew is now fine-tuning smaller details such as mapping and electronic adjustments to maximize performance.

Aprilia’s Progress and Martin’s Role

For Aprilia, having the reigning MotoGP champion on board is both a challenge and a huge opportunity. Martin’s feedback carries significant weight, and his ability to adapt quickly is vital for the Italian manufacturer’s ambitions to regularly fight at the front. While 2025 has been complicated by his absence through injury, every step forward strengthens Aprilia’s long-term competitiveness.

Martin’s willingness to openly credit Bezzecchi’s setup, and to experiment with ergonomics, shows a maturity and collaborative approach. Rather than forcing his own style onto the bike, he is allowing himself to learn from his teammate while gradually tailoring the RS-GP to suit his needs.

Looking Ahead to the Next Races

The coming rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season will reveal whether the Misano progress can translate into consistent results. Martin admitted that different circuits demand different setups, particularly regarding swingarm length, so Aprilia will continue to adapt depending on the characteristics of each track.

Still, the breakthrough at Misano means Martin heads into the next races with renewed optimism. Instead of treating every Grand Prix as an experimental session, he can now approach race weekends with a stronger base and focus on performance.

If Martin truly is at 80% now, his potential once he reaches full comfort on the RS-GP could be formidable. Aprilia’s rivals, including Ducati and Yamaha, will no doubt be watching closely as the world champion finds his rhythm.

Conclusion

The Misano MotoGP test was more than just another day of laps for Jorge Martin. It represented a turning point in his adaptation to the Aprilia RS-GP, moving from uncertainty and discomfort toward control and confidence. With ergonomic changes inspired by Marco Bezzecchi and refinements in electronics, Martin now feels stronger and more capable of pushing the bike closer to its limits.

Although he admits he is not yet at 100%, the reigning world champion is convinced that the “big work” is already done. What remains is the fine-tuning that separates podium contenders from race winners. If the progress continues, Jorge Martin’s Aprilia era could soon deliver the results both he and the team have been waiting for.