Jorge Martín warned that his Aprilia lacked front and rear grip during qualifying for the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring on 18 Jun, after posting a best lap 0.600 s off Ducati leader Marc Marquez and 0.015 s behind teammate Marco Bezzecchi.
What happened at qualifying?
The title‑leading Spaniard secured a direct slot for Q2 but struggled to find a usable window on the RS‑GP. His fastest time placed him 0.447 s behind the quickest Aprilia ridden by Raúl Fernández. Martín explained he felt “behind” because he had never ridden the Sachsenring on an Aprilia before, noting a stark contrast to his previous Ducati outings.
Why the grip problem matters for his championship bid
Missing last year’s Sachsenring event due to injury, Martín returned to a circuit that demands precise corner entry. He said the front tyre was “moving a lot on the edge of the corners” and the rear offered “no rear grip.” Those deficiencies cost him time in the T7‑T9 sector, where he loses the most. With Ducati and other manufacturers stepping up, any grip shortfall could let rivals close the points gap.
How does this compare with his recent form?
Earlier in the season Martín celebrated his first Aprilia victories at COTA (Sprint) and Le Mans (Sprint and Grand Prix). He described the first half of the year as a “great” start after pre‑season surgery. Yet he admitted the Sachsenring performance shows he is still “a bit far from the point of fighting for victory,” despite being in the podium mix.
What are the next steps before race day?
Martin plans to use the time between Friday and Saturday to fine‑tune the bike, hoping to improve corner speed in the problematic sectors. He will also watch teammates and other Aprilias that are currently faster, hoping to copy their setups. “If we continue like this, it will be a difficult race,” he warned, but expressed optimism that the team can find a solution for Sunday’s sprint and main race.
Who are his closest rivals at the Sachsenring?
Marco Bezzecchi, Martín’s teammate and championship challenger, edged him by just 0.015 s into Q2, highlighting how tight the intra‑team battle is. Ducati’s Marc Marquez set the benchmark, reinforcing the pressure on Aprilia to close the performance gap.
What does this mean for the championship outlook?
With the German round offering valuable points, Martín’s grip issues could affect his lead. He acknowledged that Ducati and other brands have improved markedly, and that staying ahead will require constant development. The next weekend will be a test of both rider adaptability and Aprilia’s engineering response.
Key takeaway: Martín’s candid assessment on 18 Jun underscores a critical development phase for his title defence, with the Sachsenring acting as a litmus test for Aprilia’s progress.