Martin: “Living in Present” Key to MotoGP Title, “Feared to Never Win it”
Jorge Martin shares how overcoming mental struggles and focusing on the present helped him secure his first MotoGP title in Barcelona.
Not even a month after Jorge Martin made his debut for Aprilia at MotoGP’s post-season test in Barcelona, speculation has begun about whether the Spaniard might reunite with Ducati in the future.
Comments from both Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali and Martin himself have added fuel to the conversation, suggesting that while it was a harsh split, the story might not be over just yet.
Domenicali left the door wide open for a potential return at Ducati’s ‘Campioni in Festa’. “We love Martin, we parted on a great note, and who knows what will happen in two years,” he said. “His return to Ducati? Why not. He is a strong rider, and we are looking for strong riders.”
While the move to Aprilia opens up a new chapter in his career, Martin made clear that his years with Ducati left a deep impression. “I can only thank Ducati. Maybe, in the future, we can get back together.”
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to put everything together to stay in Ducati next year. But it was nice, for sure. For me, it would have been a dream, but we didn’t succeed. For the future, I think Aprilia has potential. And even though I won the title, I think I can still do a lot more in this sport.”
Discussing his transition to a new bike, Martin acknowledged the first few weeks in the new team will not be easy. “The bike will be the biggest challenge at the beginning, because I’ll ride a totally different one.”
“But with time, I’ll see what I’m missing. I’ll take with me the experience of having fought with very strong riders like Pecco and also having learned a working method that can help me in the future.”
Martin’s championship-winning campaign was one for the history books, as he became the first independent rider to clinch the title in the MotoGP era. While the Spaniard managed to clinch the title in 2024, he missed out on moving up the ranks within the Ducati MotoGP structure.
Ducati’s decision to prioritize signing Marc Marquez for 2025 came at the expense of Martin and Enea Bastianini, both of whom had been very successful for the manufacturer over the past three years.
Martin didn’t shy away from criticizing Ducati’s handling of the situation. “I think after what happened, we spoke because I had to tell them quite a few things. How they managed it wasn’t really good. There was no sense to start a fight because I will start a fight with the bike that I have, so it made no sense.”
“The relationship with Gigi [Dall’Igna] and the technical staff was the same. Also with [Claudio] Domenicali, we spoke in Sachsenring, and I think we were quite clear. I was quite clear with them, and they know what I think.”
The Spaniard explained that winning the championship as an independent rider was a significant moment of validation. “The first thing I said was, ‘Ok, now I can make history as the first independent rider to win a MotoGP championship.’ So, I made history, and I will be remembered for that.”
Although doubts swirled around Ducati’s intentions during the title fight between a factory rider and an independent team rider, Martin gave credit to the team for maintaining fairness. “For sure I was scared, Paolo [Campinotti] was scared, everyone was scared, the media was scared.”
“Everybody was thinking they would do something to make me lose this championship. But they didn’t, so chapeau to Ducati, hats off. I’m really grateful to Ducati because they brought me to MotoGP and they made me world champion.”
