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MotoGP, Jorge Martin: "No doubt about the #1. I fear no one but myself."

"Aprilia was already competitive. I hope it will be the beginning of something big. Rivals? the Jorge of the past wanted to prove who I was, today I am more mature and will focus on what I have control over. With my discipline and motivation it will be a dangerous mix."

MotoGP: Jorge Martin:

Aprilia took the veil off the new RS-GP25 with which Jorge Martin will tackle the 2025 season, and the Spaniard showed the world his decision to ride with the #1 plate on the fairing, the number of the reigning world champion. It was a choice "about which I had no doubt," he later told reporters attending the presentation.

Flanked in the box by Marco Bezzecchi, Jorge Martin is one of the spearheads on which the house of Noale has focused for its future as part of an internal revolution that passes also and above all from the technical area with the arrival of Fabiano Sterlacchini. Not an easy challenge, for the Veneto manufacturer as well as for Jorge Martin, that of taking the RS-GP25 to the highest levels of competition, challenging the dominance of Ducati. A challenge that the Spaniard has made his own along with an Aprilia that presents itself as an undoubtedly very close-knit team, and that Martin will have to try to accomplish by going through a process of adjustment to a bike that is very different from the Ducati to which he was accustomed, but which undoubtedly presents its strengths. Expectations are therefore high within the Spaniard, who fresh from the title experience feels that he is now a more mature rider than in years past, aware of his own capabilities and aspirations.

You said that in putting the #1 on the bike you had no doubts. How did your life change after the title last season?
"I've achieved everything I wanted, but my life hasn't changed much," Jorge Martin began, "About choosing the #1 on the fairing I didn't have any doubts though. A year ago I was in a different and more difficult situation than I am now. The truth is that the feelings and happiness of those first weeks after the title is something I wish everyone to experience, it is something indescribable. I feel I have taken a weight off my shoulders that will help me ride even better. Winning that cup was so hard that I carried it everywhere, I couldn't take it out of my hands. After winning I'm not going to walk around, I want to keep winning it's clear. After Barcelona I was only a few days at home but it was not easy to stay still, the winter was hard with all these events, but I was happy because I was the world champion anyway. In Spain obviously now I am less free to ride on the streets, but it's normal, it's part of the process. If it's worse in the future it will mean I'm doing a good job."

Who has helped you the most in your career to get where you are now?
"It's hard to say anyone specifically, there are so many people, so many realities that in my career have helped me, all of them have contributed to get me here where I am now. I also think of the past, Aspar, Gresini, Aki Ajo and Pramac. But if I had to point to one person, I would say my manager Albert Valera. He has been with me for many years and has been a person who has helped me not only on the track but also off."


Jumping ahead to the first race in Thailand, what are your expectations riding the official Aprilia and with the number 1?
"The goal first of all will be to finish the race, I still have to understand the limits of the bike so it will be necessary to avoid crashing for no particular reason. From there on we will try to improve the feeling with the bike and the package every race. Managing being number one on the track will not be a problem, it is something I enjoy, the important thing will be to focus on what you have control over. Whether people like me or dislike me will be out of my control. It is clear that the ultimate goal is always there and that is to win, and to do that I will give it my all. I hope this is the beginning of something big, and the experience I have will help me. I want to give my all for this project and in my career, to be proud of what I will have done when it is my turn to retire. So I don't know if I will be the main rival this year, maybe we will know better next year."

Do you feel much responsibility for carrying Aprilia's expectations on your shoulders?
"I think Aprilia was already at a very good level last year, but now they have a plus, the bike has great potential. With the arrival of Fabio Sterlacchini before even the new riders, they are investing a lot to make this project successful and I think I trust they will continue in this direction, the 25 is a step ahead of the 24 and will be able to compete with the best bikes."

Who will face the toughest challenge, you in getting used to the Aprilia or Marc Marquez on the Ducati?
"You have to ask him, I think my challenge will be quite big. It's a bike I don't know and it will be difficult especially at the beginning. But I have a lot of confidence in the people I work with and I also have a lot of motivation that in the past years has not always been there. I haven't always had the right motivation, I am a rider who has always relied a lot on discipline and now to that discipline will be added motivation, it could be a dangerous mix."

You won with a private bike, will winning with a factory be easier or harder?
"I don't know yet, I don't know the bike well. Seeing the people working I can tell you that it will be easier than as a satellite rider, but it will still be a complicated challenge in adapting to the bike and the team."

Last year you turned to an expert to take care of the mental aspect as well, this year you are presented with a different challenge.
"I have continued and will continue to work in this aspect, although some secrets I will keep for myself so as not to give them to my opponents. The Jorge of a year ago wanted to win again, prove to everyone that he was the best. Today's is different, I have a different mentality. As I have said on other occasions I cannot guarantee results, it would be impossible, but what I can guarantee will be to give 100 percent to help grow the Aprilia project."

From Pramac you brought Daniele Romagnoli, from the tests what did you say to each other, what can you aim for together?
"At the beginning I have to be honest. I knew I needed someone who was already working with Aprilia, someone who knew the bike. Alternatively I would have needed someone who knew me, so I'm glad he followed me. I saw him even happier than me, he has worked in Ducati and also in Yamaha and now in Aprilia. He knows me well and we became world champions together, I think it will be a good team."

What were your impressions of the RSGP25 when you tested it in Barcelona?
"I'm honest, I think I was still hungover from the celebrations when I got on the bike! - joked the Spaniard - As soon as I got on I didn't know what to expect, but I was surprised by the front end, the feel was great, the best bike I've ever ridden in that aspect. It almost felt like a street bike because of how much feedback I was getting from the front end, whereas with the Ducati it was never so 100 percent, it's like it's too good, so I think that gives Aprilia good room for improvement. I didn't do a lot of laps, definitely on the chassis and electronics we will still have to work, I noticed a lot of movement on the bike, something that maybe didn't create problems for Maverick and Aleix, but definitely it's also related to my adaptation to the bike, because in Barcelona I rode like it was a Ducati, I will have to adapt my riding style. In general, however, the impression was very good."

How did you feel about the Aprilia team on your arrival instead?
"It was incredible, everyone wants to contribute, when we arrived in Noale with Marco we felt all the affection of the team. It's something I had never experienced before at this level. The support from the team during testing was great, we have different working methods so we will have to get to know each other better in that respect as well. Now I have more meetings to follow to figure out what directions to take, it's something that really makes me feel like a factory rider."

You train often on the bike with Aleix, can you keep up with him?
"Bike training is a part of my training regimen, 30 percent I would say. When we go out we do a lot of kilometers, but if you ask me about Aleix it's a meaningless comparison, it's like asking someone to keep up with me on a motorcycle," the Spaniard joked.

Who do you fear most this season, who will be the benchmark rider?
"I don't fear anyone but myself. I will focus on myself, of course there will be many rivals, Marco Bezzecchi is the first one I have to beat. The challenge is to take this bike that was finishing maybe 8th and 9th and bring it to the top of the podium, that will be the path and when we are there in front we can also think about the title."

 

Translated by Julian Thomas

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