Jorge Martin says he now feels a deeper love for MotoGP than he ever expected, following a chaotic and controversial 2025 season. The former world champion joined Aprilia as the factory rider this year, touted as the missing piece capable of driving title contention for the Italian manufacturer. However, a string of injuries sidelined him for lengthy stretches, restricting him to only seven of the season’s 22 races.
Complicating matters, Martin’s relationship with Aprilia soured mid-year when he attempted to trigger a performance clause to depart for 2026, despite having not yet completed a full race program on the RS-GP. Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta warned that leaving would require dissolving ties with Aprilia, a move that could have triggered protracted legal action. Before the summer break, and ahead of the Czech Grand Prix, Martin reaffirmed his commitment to extending his contract into a second year with Aprilia.
Despite Martin’s difficulties, Aprilia enjoyed its strongest season to date, with Marco Bezzecchi claiming three race wins and Raul Fernandez taking one, helping the team finish a strong second in the manufacturers’ standings. In a candid interview with the official MotoGP site, Martin reflected that he has learned far more from the year’s struggles than from his victories, and that those challenges have only amplified his passion for racing.
“I really want to give 100%, and I don’t know if I’ll get injured again or crash; that’s out of my control,” he said. “But I can control my determination to improve, and I’ll do everything possible to get back toward winning.” He added that the lessons from tough moments far outweigh those from success, and that his affection for the sport has grown beyond expectation.
Martin admitted, after the Valencia test last month, that he still feels “like a rookie” when riding the Aprilia’s RS-GP, though he believes meaningful strides are being made in his adaptation. Lewis joined Crash.net in August 2024 as a member of its MotoGP team after five years covering the series for the Motorsport Network.
