Jorge Martin has called on the Aprilia team to maintain their momentum as the thrilling 2024 MotoGP title fight against Marc Marquez heads to Mandalika. Martin currently leads the championship by just two points after a competitive weekend at Motegi.
At Motegi, Martin set a new lap record in qualifying to secure pole, but ultimately finished third in the sprint race (after a final-lap penalty) and second in the main race behind Marquez. Despite losing ground to his rival, Martin was encouraged by the strong performance of the RS-GP26 at a track that has traditionally challenged Aprilia.
Looking ahead, Martin is optimistic about Mandalika—a circuit where both he and Aprilia have enjoyed past success, potentially giving him an opportunity to extend his slim advantage.
“We leave Japan very satisfied, considering it hasn’t always been one of our best tracks,” Martin said. “The team did an exceptional job, and the double podium is a testament to everyone’s commitment. Now we head to Indonesia, to a circuit where I’ve always felt good. The championship is still very tight, so we have to keep working together and improving day by day.”
Martin’s team-mate Marco Bezzecchi is also looking to capitalize at Mandalika. Bezzecchi, currently 49 points off the lead with six rounds to go, won the sprint race there last season and is eager to regain ground after a solid result in Japan.
“Mandalika is a track I really like,” Bezzecchi shared. “We come off a good race in Japan, so we’ll keep working to stay competitive in every session.”
With the title battle heating up and just a handful of races left, Martin’s rallying cry to Aprilia is clear: keep pushing, stay united, and seize every opportunity on the road to Valencia.
