Jorge Martín, satisfied with his victory, admitted after a long drought that patience had finally paid off. Following a forgettable 2025 season, during which he even considered leaving Aprilia, the best version of the #59 rider has returned. Step by step—first with podiums, then sprint wins, and finally a Sunday victory—he proved his resilience. At the iconic Le Mans circuit, where Aprilia had never before triumphed, the Madrid-born rider staged a remarkable comeback, overtaking his teammate Marco Bezzecchi to reclaim the top step of the podium. It was his first win since Indonesia 2024, when he was still a Pramac rider and only a few points away from the title. After 588 days, Martín was back.
“I am grateful for everything that happened because it made me mature and become who I am today. The tough moments, if you know how to use them, transform you into a better person and a better rider. I didn’t leave; I stayed home to come back, working to get back on the bike,” the Spaniard recalled after his victory.
**A Race of Patience**
Reflecting on the 2025 season, Martín noted, “Aprilia is giving me what I need, and perhaps today’s race was much tougher in terms of confidence. When I was behind other riders, I struggled a lot with turning and extracting the potential from the bike.” He added, “Eventually, little by little, I freed myself from riders. When I caught Marco (Bezzecchi), I had to try. I saw I had a little more than him,” explaining his fight from eighth on the grid.
The #89 rider revealed that in the early stages of the race, “I didn’t have good feelings. But it’s true that others were dropping back. It was when I passed Pedro that I saw I had a chance to win.”
With the 37 points earned at Le Mans, Martín closed the gap to his teammate and championship leader Bezzecchi, now trailing by just one point. Regarding the title race, he predicted, “There will be champagne another time,” and assured, “If at the end of the year I have any chance of winning the title again, let nobody doubt that I will go for it.”
