At the Misano circuit, Jorge Martín encountered a challenging weekend as he grappled with his performance relative to teammate Marco Bezzecchi. The Aprilia rider experienced a difficult start when he crashed during the very first curve of Friday morning’s free practice but fortunately escaped without injury. Martín’s aim to keep up with Bezzecchi, who secured pole position, proved tough, as he ultimately qualified 11th in the session.
Race Highlights: Martín’s Determined Comeback
Despite the rocky beginning, Martín showed resilience during the race by steadily improving his position to finish eighth. Reflecting on the event, he admitted to facing difficulties from the outset.
“I did what I could, but I faced issues at the start,”
Martín revealed. The contrast between his results and Bezzecchi’s, who captured both pole and the sprint victory, made clear the gap Martín needs to bridge.
“I know what my differences are compared to Marco,”
he added, signaling the need for growth.
Technical Hurdles Impacting Martín’s Performance
One of Martín’s main challenges lies in mastering the bike’s handling. He explained the difficulty he has
“to turn when I release the brake,”
which causes him to fall behind in cornering and tires him out throughout the race. Attempts to improve through setup changes were problematic, particularly when modifications aimed at reducing wheelie issues compromised his straight-line speed.
Bezzecchi’s Dominance Highlights the Gap
Although Martín struggled, he acknowledged that Aprilia’s RS-GP machine is competitive.
“The bike is performing well, and I’m happy for Aprilia and for Marco,”
he said, recognizing his teammate’s superior command. With determination, Martín declared,
“I have a massive challenge ahead of me; Marco has understood the bike, and now it’s my turn to close the gap.”
He identified the first sector as the biggest hurdle, stating that Bezzecchi holds an advantage of “a couple of tenths faster,” a difference that matters significantly despite their close performance in the second and third sectors.
What Lies Ahead for Martín and Aprilia Racing
As the season progresses, Martín’s focus will be on reducing the gap to Bezzecchi and adapting more fully to the RS-GP’s capabilities. The internal competition within Aprilia is heating up, with Martín under growing pressure to elevate his performance. The coming races will reveal whether he can meet this challenge and keep pace with his teammate’s outstanding form.
