Jorge Martin is treating the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix not just as another race, but as the moment his real season finally begins. After months of recovery and adjustment, he believes the ‘pre-season’ phase of his comeback is over. But here’s where it gets interesting – he’s only raced in six of the sixteen rounds so far in 2025, and yet he’s already talking about shifting his mindset entirely toward pure speed and performance.
The reigning MotoGP world champion’s year has been anything but straightforward. An injury kept him off the grid for much of the early season, forcing him to watch from the sidelines while his Aprilia RS-GP evolved without him. Since returning at the Czech Grand Prix in July, his focus has been on re-learning the bike – a machine that’s seen significant development since he last rode it competitively.
Last Monday’s post-race test at Misano was a turning point. Martin spent the day fine-tuning his connection with the bike, and the biggest breakthrough came from ergonomic adjustments – changes that made the RS-GP feel more natural and responsive under him. “The Misano test was extremely positive,” he said. “We made a big step forward in terms of ergonomics. Up until now, it’s been about adapting – almost like a pre-season – but from here, I want to focus entirely on speed and performance.”
That’s not to say the work is done. Martin admits there’s still plenty of progress to be made, and he’s determined to keep pushing. His best result since returning was a remarkable fourth place at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he clawed his way up from a disappointing 18th in qualifying – a performance that reminded everyone why he’s the reigning champion.
Aprilia, meanwhile, is heading into the flyaway races with momentum. Since Marco Bezzecchi’s win at the British Grand Prix in May, the team has consistently been in the fight at the front. Bezzecchi nearly took another victory at Misano, only losing out after a tense duel with Marc Marquez. Aprilia currently sits second in the constructors’ standings, holding a narrow 23-point advantage over KTM.
But here’s the part most people overlook – Motegi hasn’t historically been kind to Aprilia. Last year, Aleix Espargaro managed only ninth place, finishing more than half a minute behind the leader. In 2023’s wet, red-flagged race, he improved to fifth, but the venue remains a tough challenge.
So the question is: will Martin’s ‘real season’ start with a bang in Japan, or will Motegi’s history with Aprilia prove too much to overcome? And more importantly – do you think calling the first half of the year a ‘pre-season’ is a fair way to frame his comeback, or does it downplay the pressure he’s under right now? Let’s hear your take.
