Jorge Martin says main the MotoGP standings after the Dutch Grand Prix is basically immaterial to him, insisting his precedence stays returning to full health and absolutely understanding the Aprilia.
Martin moved to the highest of the championship with a third-place end at Assen, with erstwhile factors chief Marco Bezzecchi retiring on lap 2 after a crash.
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It marks a notable shift within the title image, with Bezzecchi having led the standings for the reason that opening spherical of the season and solely briefly surrendering the highest spot following the dash in Austin in March.
The change additionally comes simply earlier than the midway level of the marketing campaign, with subsequent weekend’s Sachsenring spherical marking race 11 of twenty-two.
Nonetheless, 2024 champion Martin stated he takes little satisfaction from topping the championship standings, as he’s but to ship his full potential as a result of two key causes.
“I do not actually care about being first, second or third. At this level of the championship, it is not likely vital,” he stated.
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“It is higher to be first than fifth, that is for certain. However the factor is I am not 100% bodily, I struggled quite a bit with my again this weekend. I am not at my 100% with the bike.So simply put your head down, looking for that bodily situation, that feeling with the bike.
“I do not know the place the restrict is. So we are going to attempt to proceed preventing to get that most for being prepared for the final races of the season.”
Though Martin stated earlier this 12 months that he had lastly begun to really feel at one with the RS-GP after hitting a purple patch in Could, he has since softened that stance, claiming he’s nonetheless trying to find a baseline setup.
Additional, a sequence of crashes in the course of the 12 months – together with throughout a wretched weekend in Barcelona – have compromised his health, even when he has repeatedly downplayed considerations about this.
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Nonetheless, with 5 podiums together with a win throughout the primary 10 grands prix, he has been one of many extra constant factors scorers in 2026.
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Group
Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Group
“It was vital to reach shut [to the top going] into the summer time break,” he stated. “So that is an important factor, as a result of I do know second components of the season are usually actually good for me.
“I really feel like I am nonetheless in a course of with Aprilia to attempt to get to know [the bike].
“It was good to get the lead, but it surely’s nonetheless a protracted journey. We’ve to go race by race. If we’ve the prospect on the finish, I’ll battle for it. And I hope that even when I do not actually belief the statistics, I hope that it performs function for me.”
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Whereas the 2 Aprilia riders have been anticipated to dominate the season, the championship battle stays broad open heading into subsequent month’s German GP.
Martin sits simply seven factors away from Bezzecchi within the standings, with Fabio di Giannantonio one other 9 factors adrift on the most effective of the Ducatis. Additional, the highest eight riders are separated by simply 63 factors on the leaderboard.
Requested if there may be any specific rival he must regulate, the Spaniard stated: “There are numerous opponents, we’re in MotoGP. There are six, seven riders who can battle for a championship.
“So I’ll attempt to deal with myself, attempting to be higher each race. And if I do like this, then hopefully, I’ve the prospect to battle on the finish. Possibly Ai [Ogura], perhaps Marc [Marquez], perhaps Bezzecchi, whoever it’s, I’ll attempt to battle until the top.”
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Learn Additionally:
5 issues we discovered from MotoGP’s action-packed Dutch GP
Trackhouse on beating manufacturing facility Aprilias in Dutch GP: “Our riders have been higher”
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