Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin is preparing to turn the page on a difficult 2025 campaign as he heads into the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, declaring the event the true start of his season. The factory Aprilia rider, who has endured a year plagued by injuries and an extended adaptation period with the RS-GP, now believes the turning point has finally arrived following what he described as an “extremely positive” Misano test.

A Difficult First Half of the Season

The 2025 season has been anything but straightforward for Martin. The defending champion has only managed to compete in six of the 16 rounds run so far, spending much of the early part of the year on the sidelines recovering from injuries. His absence coincided with a period of rapid development for Aprilia, which meant that by the time he returned to action at the Czech Grand Prix in July, the RS-GP he once knew had already evolved into a much different machine.

For Martin, the challenge was not simply returning to race fitness but also learning how to adapt to a motorcycle that had moved forward without him. His comeback races have therefore been marked more by the process of reacclimatization than by outright results, a situation the Spaniard himself compared to having a second “pre-season” in the middle of the championship.

Misano Provides Breakthrough

The turning point may have come during the post-race Misano test, where Martin and his Aprilia team were able to focus on fine-tuning ergonomics and improving comfort on the bike. According to Martin, the gains made in that session provided him with his best feeling on the RS-GP since his return.

“The test in Misano was extremely positive,” Martin reflected. “We did a lot of testing and took a nice step forward in terms of ergonomics. Up to now it has been a path of adaptation – almost a pre-season – but from here on out, I’d like to focus on speed and performance. The Misano race allowed me to get close to where I want to be, although there is still a lot of work to do. We need to continue to improve and that will be our obsession throughout the rest of the season.”

This renewed confidence has shifted Martin’s outlook, with the Japanese GP now serving as the symbolic reset of his campaign.

Highlights and Challenges Since His Return

Despite the difficulties, Martin has already shown glimpses of his old form. His standout moment so far came at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he stormed through the field from 18th on the grid to finish an impressive fourth. That performance served as proof that when he connects with the Aprilia, he still has the speed to battle at the front.

However, consistency has been elusive, and the Spaniard acknowledges that Aprilia’s RS-GP requires further refinement to fully unlock its potential. He and the team remain committed to pushing development for the remainder of the season, with Martin emphasizing the need to chase incremental improvements at every round.

Aprilia’s Competitive Standing

While Martin’s struggles have dominated headlines, Aprilia as a manufacturer has quietly put together a strong season. The Italian brand sits second in the constructors’ standings, 23 points clear of KTM, thanks in part to Marco Bezzecchi’s victory at the British Grand Prix and his podium-contending pace at multiple rounds. Bezzecchi nearly secured another win at Misano, engaging in a thrilling battle with Marc Marquez before settling for second.

This consistency has cemented Aprilia’s place as one of the frontrunners in the championship battle, a stark contrast to previous years when the marque struggled for relevance. The team now arrives in Japan determined to continue that momentum, even if Motegi has historically been a difficult venue.

Motegi’s History with Aprilia

The Twin Ring Motegi has not been kind to Aprilia in recent seasons. In 2024, Aleix Espargaro could do no better than ninth, finishing over half a minute behind the leader. A year earlier, in the wet and red-flagged 2023 race, Espargaro salvaged a fifth-place finish, which still stood out as a rare highlight.

For Martin, however, history matters little. His focus is firmly on the present and on using the Japanese GP as the stage to show that his adaptation phase is over. With renewed confidence from the Misano test, the Spaniard believes Aprilia can break through its Motegi struggles and turn the circuit into the launchpad for his second half of the season.

The Road Ahead

With the flyaway rounds approaching, the MotoGP calendar enters a demanding stretch that often defines championship fortunes. For Martin, the next few races represent a chance not only to regain competitive sharpness but also to prove that he can still be a race-winning force on the Aprilia.

His mission is clear: shift the focus from adaptation to outright performance. Backed by a team that has already demonstrated race-winning speed with Bezzecchi, Martin knows that results are within reach if he can match his comfort with the RS-GP to his natural raw pace.

The Japanese Grand Prix is more than just another race—it is, as Martin himself put it, the true beginning of his season. After months of recovery, adaptation, and frustration, the reigning champion is ready to finally fight like one again.

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