Jorge Martin MotoGP Czech GP practice sessions saw the Spaniard make a remarkable return to racing after a long recovery from serious injuries sustained at the Qatar GP. On Friday at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic, Martin rejoined the paddock riding for Aprilia, signaling his determination to regain competitive form despite the challenging conditions. His presence reignited interest as fans and teams closely monitored his progress.
Morning Session Demonstrates Cautious Progress in Drying Conditions
The first practice session took place amid drying track conditions, where a dry line gradually appeared on the circuit. Due to the tricky track, Martin opted for a careful approach, especially after witnessing his teammate Marco Bezzecchi and rider Ai Ogura crash during the session. It marked Martin’s first official MotoGP outing since his injury, which included multiple broken ribs. Completing the session 17th and 2.5 seconds off the fastest lap, Martin chose prudence over risk.
“I miss this feeling a lot and just focused. It was a really demanding day, having all these conditions on track. We had to be always really focused. The dry line was really narrow in some corners so it was difficult to be consistent. I missed the consistency by being out for a lot of months.”
—Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing
Stronger Performance in Wet Conditions During Afternoon Practice
Heavy rain delayed the afternoon session by 20 minutes, but once underway, the track remained sufficiently wet for riders to use wet tires. Martin’s performance improved notably, as he gradually climbed the ranks from the lower end of the top 10 to finish fifth, just over seven-tenths behind Marc Marquez’s fastest lap. His ability to adapt quickly to the wet surface caught the attention of team members and pitlane observers alike.
“In the afternoon, I felt super focused, super consistent.”
“Actually, it was really emotional after finishing in the top five, not because of the result itself, but because I am back. I did a great job today. I am really happy.”
—Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing
Maintaining Optimism Despite Inconsistent Track Conditions
Martin was questioned on whether the variable weather conditions contributed significantly to his improved pace. The rider acknowledged the challenge of maintaining consistent lines, especially after months away from racing, but remained hopeful about the upcoming sessions. He avoided setting high expectations, focusing instead on competing fully and continuously improving.
“I don’t know, we will see tomorrow. I miss that consistency with my lines because in the morning, I felt that I couldn’t make any mistakes. Sometimes I was going wide, it took me out like four or five laps.”
“I think I will be six or seven [on Saturday] morning. In both conditions, I am strong, but I don’t want to expect anything from tomorrow. Try to compete with 100%, to improve, is the main target now.”
—Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing
Rapid Adaptation to Wet Track and Growing Confidence
Martin expressed surprise at how quickly he adapted to riding in wet conditions on the Aprilia bike, noting this was his first wet outing since the previous season. Despite uncertainty entering corners, he felt the bike’s feedback through the tires helped him find confidence and maintain top positions towards the session’s end.
“I was surprised because it was my first time in the wet on this bike and first time in the wet since last season.”
“I cannot be really optimistic when I go into the corners because I don’t know what is going to happen. So I need to start feeling the things, but as soon as I put on some more tyres, I was always in the top four, top five.”
—Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing
Improved Comfort and Setup Thanks to Recent Test at Misano
Martin credited a recent private test at Misano earlier in June as crucial to his progress, allowing him to refine his riding position and familiarize himself with the Aprilia bike without the distraction of cameras or crowds. This test helped him gain a baseline setup that he described as feeling like “his bike,” boosting his confidence heading into the race weekend.
“Thanks to Aprilia because they pushed a lot for that test.”
“This was super important. I remember in the test there were no cameras, no people, I was able to ride really slowly and smoothly, trying to get to the bike a [comfortable] position.”
“Now that we have [a comfortable] position, I feel like it’s my bike, so this is fantastic. We have a lot of work to do, but I want to be super optimistic. We still have to work on the position, but the feeling is good, the base set-up is good.”
—Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing
Outlook for the Rest of the Czech Grand Prix Weekend
Jorge Martin’s return to competitive MotoGP racing at Brno is a hopeful sign of his recovery and readiness to battle in the championship once again. His ability to perform strongly in wet conditions is particularly encouraging as unpredictable weather often affects race outcomes. Looking ahead, Martin’s focus on consistency and gradual improvement suggests he aims to rebuild momentum carefully while targeting strong results in both dry and wet conditions throughout the weekend.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is MotoGP not so popular?
A. Unfortunately, entertainment attracts more people than sports do, and MotoGP is trying to benefit from this trend. However, MotoGP doesn’t currently have personalities that generate enough drama to engage audiences.
Q. Has anyone won F1 and MotoGP?
A. John Surtees is famous for being the sole World Champion in both motorcycle racing and Formula 1. He displayed exceptional talent and courage in both sports.
Q. Why isn’t MotoGP popular?
A. Motorcycling isn’t as popular as football. Most people, about 90%, don’t feel connected to it, no matter how much Liberty Media spends on promotion. In a world with limited entertainment choices, this might change, but currently, there are plenty of options available.
Q. Is MotoGP cheaper than F1?
A. According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, hosting a Formula One race costs four times more than hosting a MotoGP event. Additionally, organizing a MotoGP event is also less expensive than putting together a Formula E race.
