Jorge Martin Aims for Caution Over Conquest at Valencia MotoGP Return

Valencia, Spain – Jorge Martin, making his return to MotoGP action at the Valencian Grand Prix following an injury sustained at the Japanese Grand Prix in September, has acknowledged that a crash this weekend would be a "disaster" for his physical condition and future prospects. The factory Aprilia rider, who has been sidelined for several weeks, emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety and building rhythm ahead of a crucial test session scheduled for Tuesday. This test is widely regarded as the starting point for preparations for the 2026 season.

Martin’s return to the track on Friday marked his first competitive outing since the Japanese Grand Prix, where he suffered injuries that have hampered his physical fitness. Despite feeling "super good" on the bike during Friday’s practice sessions, Martin has adopted an ultra-conservative approach to the weekend, recognizing the limitations imposed by his current condition.

As part of this strategy, Martin deliberately avoided pushing for a flying lap on fresh tires at the end of Friday’s practice. This decision, in line with his pre-weekend promise, effectively ruled out any possibility of securing a direct spot in Q2, the second qualifying round. However, Martin clarified that this was a calculated move, consistent with his overall plan for the weekend.

"Not pushing was the most difficult part, because I actually felt super good today on the bike," Martin said. "It’s a different philosophy this weekend, trying to take it as a test is not easy, because when you are with other riders and you have all the times on the screen, you want to push more."

Related News :

The primary objective for Martin at Valencia is to regain his racing rhythm and gather valuable data in preparation for Tuesday’s test session. This test is seen as critical for setting the direction for the 2026 season, as teams begin to evaluate new components and strategies.

Martin elaborated on the challenges of balancing his competitive instincts with the need to avoid further injury. "It’s really important to understand that my condition is bad and it’s really important to not crash. So this is the main thing of the weekend, I’m getting ready for the test, that will be the important day for us."

Acknowledging that he may only be operating at 60% to 70% of his full potential, Martin stressed that the risks associated with pushing too hard far outweigh any potential gains. "The thing is that if I crash, then it will be a really big problem for the future. I think if I get injured again, then my body won’t support it. That’s what my doctors tell me. So I have to be really easy and really smooth. And this is what I did."

Despite his cautious approach, Martin’s performance on Friday was relatively competitive, placing him just over a second off the pace. However, in a tightly contested field, this was only enough to position him ahead of Somkiat Chantra and Nicolo Bulega in the overall standings.

Martin emphasized the importance of the weekend for familiarizing himself with the bike and building confidence ahead of Tuesday’s test. "I think the best for me and for my future and for my targets is to be here and ride smoothly. This is the most important thing. For sure, if I push…and I crash, then it’s really a disaster," he said.

Martin reiterated that he is not focused on comparing himself to other riders, but rather on maximizing his own progress and development. "So that’s why I need to be calm, know my target. I’m not comparing myself to any of the other guys. I’m just looking at my side of the box, what we are improving, what we need to be better, and that’s it."

The upcoming test on Tuesday holds even greater significance for Martin than the race weekend itself. "Tuesday is even more important than to be here today. So just going through the weekend in the safest [way]… I cannot promise that I won’t crash because this is impossible, but for sure I don’t take any risk to put me in that situation."

The Valencian Grand Prix marks the final race of the season, and the Tuesday test provides teams with an opportunity to begin preparations for the 2026 season, which will see significant changes to the technical regulations.

Jorge Martin’s focus on minimizing risk and prioritizing the test session underscores the importance of long-term planning and strategic decision-making in the highly competitive world of MotoGP. His performance this weekend will be closely watched as he seeks to regain his form and prepare for the challenges ahead.