Jorge Martín admitted on 22 Jun 2024 that his recent slump on the Aprilia MotoGP bike stems from a set‑up that has drifted far from the configuration that delivered early‑season wins in Austin, Brazil and Le Mans.
What happened at the German Grand Prix?
The Spaniard finished fifth at the Sachsenring, 11.3 seconds behind the winner, after being overtaken by the Trackhouse Racing duo while leading earlier. He fended off a late charge from former title rival Pecco Bagnaia, keeping the Ducati rider at bay by just 0.123 seconds. Despite the modest result, Martín extended his championship lead to 14 points, thanks to teammate Marco Bezzecchi’s absence.
Why is the bike performing differently now?
Martin explained that the Aprilia team has been constantly tweaking the machine to suit each circuit, but those adjustments have pushed the bike away from the sweet spot that made him a benchmark rider in the first half of the season. “We are always trying to adapt the bike to the different track, but maybe this is not the way for the Aprilia,” he said. He noted that rivals appear more stable because they stick to a set‑up they understand, allowing them to push harder.
How did recent races affect his confidence?
After a strong showing in Hungary, Martín suffered a back issue that dented his confidence. He said the problem lingered into the German round, where he felt the front end losing grip rather than a mental block. “It wasn’t about confidence, it was about the limit,” he clarified, adding that crashes in Barcelona seemed to reset his rhythm before the Mugello double.
What’s the plan for the second half of the season?
The rider intends to revert to the early‑season configuration, analysing data from his fast laps and eliminating what slowed him down. “Hard work during the summer, not a lot of rest days, and try to be stronger in the second part of the season,” Martín emphasized. He also hinted at possible tweaks to his riding style to extract more front‑end grip.
How does this affect the championship battle?
With a 14‑point cushion, Martín remains in a strong position, but the gap to Ducati’s Bagnaia and other contenders is narrowing. The upcoming summer break offers a crucial window for Aprilia engineers to lock down a set‑up that restores the rider’s winning edge before the next round in Austria.