Martin thinks next MotoGP title chance could come in 2026

New Aprilia MotoGP signing Jorge Martin believes he could possibly have a chance to fight for the championship again in 2026.

The reigning champion has switched to Aprilia’s factory team on a two-year contract after being snubbed of a chance to move up to the factory Ducati team in favour of six-time champion Marc Marquez.

Starting this year, he will lead an all-new line-up at the Noale-based brand, teaming up with another Ducati exile Marco Bezzecchi. 

Although Aprilia was the only factory other than Ducati to score a race win in 2024, with Maverick Vinales triumphing in the Americas GP in April, it still ended up third in the manufacturers’ standings and with just 40% of the points of its rival.

Martin hence is aware that he wouldn’t be able to mount a title charge immediately on his arrival to Aprilia, but thinks his new employer will be able to produce a bike capable of challenging for the title in 2026.

“Leading Aprilia into the title fight will not be easy, so that is not the objective for the new season,” he said in the Tengo Un Plan podcast.

“The opportunity could come as early as 2026. But for now, I just have to do my best.”

Ducati has been the dominant force in MotoGP since 2022, with Martin’s title success last year on a satellite Pramac bike marking Ducati’s third straight triumph in the premier class. Francesco Bagnaia, the Spaniard’s title rival from last season, won back-to-back titles on factory Ducati bikes in 2022-23.

Martin admitted that he is keeping a lid on his expectations at the start of the year, having only completed one day of testing on the RS-GP in November to assess its performance.

“The challenge is enormous because I’m going from a bike with which I was fighting for the top positions to one that is in the lower part of the top 10,” he admitted.

“I have no idea what the bike will actually be like, we’ll have to wait for the February tests.”