The “Martinator” has officially arrived in his new colors! After a grueling 26-lap battle in the brutal Buriram heat, Jorge Martin emerged from the 2026 PT Grand Prix of Thailand with a massive smile and a massive statement. Securing a Top 5 finish to cap off a highly consistent weekend, the Spanish star proved that his adaptation to the Aprilia is well ahead of schedule.
Not only did Martin battle with the likes of Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta, but he also played a crucial role in a historic day for his new factory: the end of Ducati’s incredible five-year podium streak.
With only two days of pre-season testing under his belt, Martin’s expectations were measured coming into Thailand. However, top-five finishes in both qualifying and the races have completely shifted the narrative.
“I’m super happy to close this solid weekend,” Martin beamed to reporters. “At the beginning of the race, I was feeling super good. I was fighting again with Marc and with Pedro. I felt again that I am the same as I used to be. So this is really good.”
When asked to grade his first race weekend of 2026, Martin didn’t hesitate:
The Rating: “A 9 out of 10.” * The Reason: “My target was to finish and keep making steps forward. Raul [Fernandez] wasn’t really far away from me, so the podium was possible.”
One of the biggest storylines of the ThaiGP was the absolute absence of Ducati on the podium—a streak that had lasted for half a decade. While Martin acknowledged his former manufacturer’s strength, he boldly declared that Aprilia is ready for a title fight.
On Ducati: “Mark was super strong… if he didn’t have the tire issue, I think today he would be in second position. Ducati will be super strong all season.”
On Aprilia’s Title Hopes: “Aprilia is strong, and we have our chances to fight for this championship.”
Switching manufacturers is never easy, and Martin admitted that his physical readiness and bike setup are still works in progress. During testing, merely completing 12 laps was exhausting. Today, he conquered 26 laps in the Buriram oven.
“Yesterday 12 laps was okay, and today 26 was tricky, but not more than usual. I worked really, really hard this weekend to understand the small points to improve.”
The key to unlocking Martin’s final form on the Aprilia lies in the setup. Right now, he is adapting his riding style to suit the bike.
“As soon as I can find my base and attack as I want, I will make another small step, and that step will bring me to the fight for victories.”
Credit Photo : MotoGP
