Jorge Martín believes Aprilia has “got through the hardest part”

“We’ve got through the hardest part for Aprilia,” Jorge Martín said after finishing third at the Indonesian MotoGP Grand Prix in Mandalika. The Spaniard was pleased with the result and also reclaimed the championship lead. Speaking on DAZN, he said he felt confident about the races ahead.

Martín described a race in which he had to recover after a poor start. Once he had reached third place, his target, he kept pushing in an effort to catch the riders in front. “Raúl and Marco were much faster than me,” he admitted. He then focused on extending the gap to those behind, while staying consistent and avoiding mistakes. Despite struggling to feel comfortable with the tyres, he considered the podium a good one.

The rider also explained why he could not get closer to the leaders. He pointed to the front-tyre pressure and said his team had opted for a cautious approach. In his view, the feeling had been excellent the day before, but the race proved more difficult. Even so, he felt strong.

His attention is now on what comes next. “Lately I’ve been going very well, consistent at every circuit and fast. I’m optimistic about the upcoming races. I think we’ve got through the hardest part for Aprilia. From now on, we can be competitive everywhere,” he said. He also noted that not having raced the previous year had made it harder to find his setup and reference points, and that some circuits were more challenging for him.

On the championship, Martín played down the significance of regaining the lead: “The important thing is to be in the fight.” He felt third was probably the most he could achieve in this race, while believing he had more potential the day before. He added that five important races remained and that he intended to give everything in them. Despite the physical demands of the event, he said he felt good.