P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Jorge Martin finally returns to MotoGP action at Valencia this weekend – and once again the picture at Aprilia has changed a lot in his absence
Last year’s MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin is set to make his long-awaited return this weekend at the final round of the 2025 championship in Valencia. Recovered from his latest injury, Martin is gearing up for only his eighth race weekend since clinching the title a year ago. His return to Aprilia, which has undergone significant improvements in his absence, offers an opportunity to evaluate both the bike’s current performance and the potential for his second year with the team.
After a series of setbacks that included injuries and contract disputes, Martin’s return to action at Brno showed promise as he consistently landed inside the top 10. However, another crash in Japan sidelined him for four more rounds before making a comeback this weekend. Despite missing significant races, Aprilia has enjoyed success this season, highlighting the bike’s progress without Martin.
Valencia marks a crucial moment for Martin to regain race pace and provide feedback on the new 2026-spec RS-GP prototype ahead of next year’s testing at Sepang. While his focus may not be on achieving immediate results, his insights from this weekend’s races will be valuable to Aprilia’s engineers, especially regarding recent electronic upgrades and advancements seen with other riders like Bezzecchi and Fernandez.
Although Martin’s return may not lead to immediate success this weekend, his presence will play a vital role in shaping Aprilia’s future developments and aspirations in the MotoGP championship.
