Jorge Martin has declared that his remarkable comeback from a nightmare 2025 season fills him with as much pride as his 2024 MotoGP world championship—and he believes the journey has made him a better rider than ever.
The Spaniard delivered a powerful statement at the French Grand Prix on Sunday, securing his first grand prix victory since his title-winning campaign with Pramac Ducati two years ago. The win was a symbolic return to the pinnacle of MotoGP, erasing any lingering doubts about whether Martin had truly put his troubles behind him.
Martin’s path back to the top was anything but straightforward. Between the end of 2024 and early 2026, he endured a string of injuries that forced him to miss the majority of races. While sidelined, he also faced a contractual dispute with Aprilia—a story that made headlines after being broken by Motorsport.com—and has spoken openly about the mental battles he fought during those low moments.
This season, however, has been a far smoother ride. Martin entered Le Mans with a couple of sprint wins already under his belt, proving his form was returning. The only piece missing was a grand prix victory—a statement win that would confirm his full return as a MotoGP frontrunner. Less than an hour after the lights went out, he had it.
“Yeah, for sure. I’m really happy to be back at my top level,” Martin said when asked if reaching his peak again felt as rewarding as winning the title. “I think now I am a better rider than I was in 2024, for sure.”
Martin credits the tough times for that growth. “I always say that I am grateful for the bad things that happened to me, because if you take that as something to improve, something to learn from it, it just makes you a better man. So all the bad things that happened to me make me the man that I am today,” he added.
The victory also came with a layer of team drama. Martin was hunted down and caught late in the race by Marco Bezzecchi, his teammate, before ultimately prevailing in a straight Sunday fight for the first time this season. It was a conclusive defeat for Bezzecchi, who now has plenty to ponder after the French round.
Despite his intentions to move to Yamaha for 2027, Martin emphasized that his relationship with Aprilia remains strong. “I am here at Aprilia and I will defend these colours as long as I am with them. So I’m really happy to have this relationship and to be so united with Aprilia at this moment,” he said.
For fans and riders alike, Martin’s resurgence is a reminder that even the toughest setbacks can forge a stronger champion—on and off the track.