JORGE MARTIN PRAISES APRILIA’S 2026 RS-GP26 AS HE COMPARES IT TO DUCATI’S GP24

Jorge Martin has been comparing Aprilia’s latest MotoGP prototype to Ducati’s legendary GP24 after riding both in the premier class. Speaking in an interview with Moto.it in the San Marino Grand Prix paddock, the Spaniard said Aprilia’s 2026 RS-GP26 immediately stood out for how well it works as a complete package.

“For me, it’s an incredible bike, the best-balanced one I’ve ever ridden,” Martin said. He added that while other machines may offer specific strengths, the Aprilia’s overall feel is what convinced him. “Other bikes might have more rear grip, others might have better front-end handling, but ultimately, in terms of the bike’s balance, it does everything well.” Martin also acknowledged that no bike is perfect on every day, but insisted the RS-GP26’s baseline characteristics are consistently strong. “It’s an incredible bike. Obviously, there are days when it’s not like that, when you struggle, but generally speaking, the balance is that of an incredible bike.”

Martin’s comments also touched on the Ducati GP24, the bike he rode to MotoGP world championship success in 2024. That season’s title fight went right down to the final round against Francesco Bagnaia, with Martin’s consistency ultimately proving decisive even though Bagnaia won 11 Grands Prix. The GP24 itself became a benchmark machine during its run: it won 16 of the 20 races in 2024, and then added further victories in the following year through Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer.

However, Martin was less effusive about the GP24 when compared with Aprilia’s current prototype. “It was certainly a very different bike to ride,” he said. “Perhaps a bit more stable, shall we say, but it had much stronger points compared to the others, such as corner exit or braking from the straight – other positive aspects.”

The contrast between the two bikes comes at a time when Martin is still chasing another championship. Aprilia’s RS-GP26 has already delivered results in 2026, with Martin’s tally including five Grand Prix wins and three Sprint victories, while he noted he has taken only one of those wins on a Sunday.

In the standings, Marc Marquez has recently moved to the top, and Martin remains joint on points with him. With the title fight ongoing, Martin’s focus is on finding momentum quickly, especially as Ducati continues to evolve its lineup—where the GP25 has also been successful, but has been described as harder to ride than its predecessors.