Behind the ‘Frustrations’: How Jorge Martin Is Really Adapting to Aprilia

Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin is enduring one of the toughest campaigns of his premier-class career. After achieving the ultimate high in 2024, the Spaniard’s first season with Aprilia has been anything but smooth, marked by injuries, inconsistency, and the daunting challenge of adapting to a completely new machine. Yet, despite his struggles, Martin insists that while frustration is a natural part of this process, he has grown stronger mentally and is embracing the journey rather than letting setbacks derail him.

A Rocky Title Defense

Martin’s 2025 season has been defined more by absence than performance. Injuries early in the year cost him several rounds, stunting his ability to adapt to the Aprilia RS-GP. Out of the 22 scheduled grands prix, he has only completed six weekends so far. His best result came at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished fourth after a gritty display that reminded fans of his trademark aggression and speed.

But results like that have been rare. Technical issues, penalties, and underwhelming qualifying sessions have repeatedly left him on the back foot. At the San Marino Grand Prix, Martin suffered one of his most frustrating weekends yet. After qualifying only 11th, he salvaged eighth place in the sprint but was hit with two long lap penalties in the grand prix due to a technical infringement under MotoGP’s updated regulations. The penalties effectively ended any chance of a strong result, and he had to settle for 13th.

The Qualifying Struggle

Perhaps the most telling weakness in Martin’s Aprilia adaptation has been qualifying. Known for his explosive one-lap pace during his Ducati days, Martin has found it far more difficult to extract that same speed from the RS-GP. His best time-attack performance so far was 11th at Misano, a sharp contrast to the consistent front-row starts that defined his 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

The difficulty in qualifying not only affects his grid position but also his ability to fight at the front in races. With modern MotoGP so tightly contested, starting outside the top 10 often leaves a rider with too much ground to recover, especially when competing against rivals like Marco Bezzecchi, who has adapted brilliantly to the same machinery.

Team-Mate Comparison: Bezzecchi Raises the Bar

While Martin is battling through his growing pains, Marco Bezzecchi has thrived in the Aprilia environment. Since his breakthrough win at the British Grand Prix in May, Bezzecchi has become a regular podium contender, carrying the factory Aprilia flag in the championship standings.

This has inevitably drawn comparisons between the two, with some questioning whether Martin is struggling more than expected. However, Martin remains level-headed, pointing out that every rider’s adaptation curve is different and that he is determined to reach his target in his own time.

Frustration Without Negativity

Martin has been candid about the emotional side of his struggles. He admits that moments like a poor qualifying lap or a difficult sprint can spark frustration, but he has worked hard on the mental aspect of his racing to prevent those emotions from spiraling into negativity.

“I mean, for sure there are some points where I am frustrated, like today in qualifying, like in Barcelona sprint, because when things don’t come naturally I feel a bit frustrated,” Martin explained after the Misano weekend. “But this is normal. Now I think I improved a lot mentally and I think I accept this situation. The important thing is to not get on those thoughts that everything is not coming – it’s the other way around. See the opportunities where to improve and just continue.”

This ability to reframe frustration into motivation may be the key factor keeping Martin competitive in such a difficult year. His willingness to embrace the process shows a maturity that was not always present earlier in his career.

Progress Through Testing

One of the most encouraging signs for Martin came immediately after the San Marino Grand Prix, when he was able to spend valuable time on the RS-GP during the post-race test. Without the pressure of a race weekend, he was able to focus solely on learning the bike and building confidence.

The Spaniard revealed that he now feels like he is riding at 80% of his potential with the Aprilia. While that means there is still a gap to full mastery, it also shows that progress is being made, and that a breakthrough may not be far away.

Looking Ahead: Patience Before the Party

Martin knows that patience is essential. His journey with Aprilia was never expected to yield instant results, especially after injuries disrupted his rhythm. What matters most, in his view, is staying committed to the work and maintaining belief that the results will eventually come.

“When the first podium or victory arrives, I will make a big, big party,” he said with a smile, underlining that while the frustrations are real, the hunger and optimism remain intact.

Conclusion

Jorge Martin’s 2025 MotoGP season has been a battle of endurance, patience, and mental strength. While injuries, penalties, and qualifying struggles have hampered his title defense, the reigning world champion is showing that he has the resilience to weather tough times. His ongoing adaptation to Aprilia may not yet be yielding podiums, but the foundations are being laid for future success.

With Marco Bezzecchi leading the Aprilia charge, Martin is determined to close the gap and prove why he earned the number one plate in the first place. If he can turn frustration into fuel, his long-awaited breakthrough could arrive sooner than expected — and when it does, the celebrations will be as fierce as his riding style.