MARTIN URGES APRILIA TO KEEP IMPROVING AS MARQUEZ CLOSES IN

Jorge Martin arrives at Mandalika with a two-point lead over Marc Marquez, urging Aprilia to maintain its progress as the MotoGP title contest tightens. The reigning champion leaves Japan encouraged by the RS-GP26’s competitiveness at Motegi, a track where Aprilia had struggled in the past, even though Marquez gained ground across the weekend.

Martin set a new qualifying lap record to claim pole, then crossed the line second in the sprint. A penalty for running onto the green on the final lap dropped him to third, behind Marquez and Diogo Moreira. He finished second again in Sunday’s grand prix, with Marquez taking victory. The results cost Martin points, but Aprilia’s double podium offered evidence that the bike can perform at circuits that have not traditionally suited it.

Mandalika could provide a chance to respond: it has been a strong venue for both Martin and Aprilia. “We leave Japan very satisfied, from a circuit that in the past hadn’t been among Aprilia’s best,” Martin said. He praised the team’s work, adding that the double podium reflected “everyone’s commitment.”

With the championship still close, Martin said the team must keep working together and improving day by day. “Now we head to Indonesia, to a circuit where I’ve always felt good. However, the championship is still very tight, so we have to keep going this way,” he said.

Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi also has an opportunity to make up ground. He is 49 points behind the championship lead with six rounds remaining, and needs to regularly beat both Martin and Marquez to stay in contention. Bezzecchi won last year’s Mandalika sprint, but his grand prix ended after a collision with Marquez.

“I’m happy to be racing here in Indonesia,” Bezzecchi said. “Mandalika is a track I really like.” After a positive race in Japan, he hopes to carry that form into the weekend and continue improving. His stated target is to be competitive in every session.