Jorge Martin is still not fully fit as he embarks on the third round of the 2026 MotoGP world championship. Given that the venue for that race is COTA, the most physical circuit on the calendar, it’s little wonder that the Spaniard is downplaying his chances.
“Honestly speaking, I felt a bit of pain after the race in Brazil [last weekend],” Martin told media in Texas. “I’m not at 100% still. Maybe at another race I wouldn’t even think about it, but here in Austin I think is the most demanding race of the season. So I think I will struggle in terms of my physical condition.
“Let’s see how we can avoid the pain and how we can approach the weekend, but I need to save a bit of energy and yeah, maybe I will not be at my full potential. So it’s more about finishing, bringing it back home. I will do my best for sure, if I can be winning I will fight for it. But yeah, it will be a tough weekend I think.”
Having said all that, however, the factory Aprilia rider admitted that he could see a potential flip side of the story. Sustaining his strong early-season form at the long, undulating Texan track would speak volumes for his prospects for the rest of the season.
That’s not just because of the physical challenge, but also the technical one that lingers after spending most of 2025 on the sidelines. Martin tested at Buriram ahead of the season-opening Thai Grand Prix, then had a level playing field at a circuit that was new to everyone in Brazil. Texas, however, sees him take to a track he hasn’t raced on since 2024 – when he was riding a Ducati rather than his current Aprilia.
In that sense, it is the first real opportunity for him to measure his progress on the Aprilia in the context of a ‘normal’ 2026 race.
“For me it will be crucial to understand if I need to change the bike or continue with my base,” said the 28-year-old, who finished a strong second behind team-mate Marco Bezzecchi in Brazil.
“If I’m competitive here, then I think I will be competitive everywhere. So it will be a nice and challenging weekend for me.”
Martin’s last outing in Texas came in his championship season two years ago
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Martin is not the only leading contender short of full fitness heading into the American race. World champion Marc Marquez is also still battling the effects of his crash in Indonesia late last season, Maverick Vinales is also fighting a 2025 injury and VR46 Ducati rider Fabio di Giannantonio is still feeling the knock he took in the warm-up session ahead of the Brazilian race.
“I underestimated [the injury] a little bit on Sunday for the race,” reported di Giannantonio on Thursday in Texas. “Then the most difficult day actually was on Monday, [when] it was tough to use the arm in the proper way.
“But I really don’t want to make it an excuse or something. I don’t want to even think about it. We will do everything to be prepared 100%, I’m sure. And I have the right people to [go into] Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 100%. [The injury] is there but with the head [mentally] we are fully focused and we’ll be okay.”
With the Qatar Grand Prix having been postponed, the month-long break following the United States GP will be a welcome one for all the riders carrying injuries. The season will resume at Jerez on April 26.
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– The Autosport.com Team
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