Jorge Martin is continuing to try to adapt his riding style to the Aprilia MotoGP bike, but still has some habits he falls into that are not helping him.

Martin’s 2025 MotoGP season was almost non-existent, missing almost all of the races through injury. It meant not only a terrible defence of the title he won in 2024, but also significant hits to his confidence and delays in adapting his riding style to the Aprilia RS-GP, having moved from Ducati at the end of 2024.

That adaptation is still ongoing, and Martin said after the opening day of practice at the first round of the 2026 season that there are still “automatic” parts of his riding style that he needs to adjust, and that these show up most in time attacks.

“I feel a bit better on pace, let’s say,” he told MotoGP.com.

“Time attack is still my weak point; I do some automatic things that, still, are not the best for this bike and riding style. 

“But it’s a process, I need to understand how to do it. 

“Marco [Bezzecchi] is on a completely other level, so the potential of the bike in time attack is amazing, I just need to close that gap.”

Marco Bezzecchi ended the day fastest on the second Aprilia. Martin said he was making most of the difference in braking.

“I think braking for sure is the biggest step [Bezzecchi is making],” Martin said. “It can be the first part of braking, he’s really late, and he’s able to be super-smooth. 

“While, for my side, I’m really aggressive and earlier, so I do a bit of the opposite! It’s a process, I will arrive but it’s a matter of time.”

Despite not feeling yet like he’s completely at-one with the RS-GP, Martin was pleased enough with his Friday, that saw him directly into Q2 in fifth place.

“Already on Wednesday I was a bit nervous thinking about Friday,” Martin joked.

“Nice step today, going straight away to Q2 without looking for a tow, just doing my own pace. I’m happy. 

“It was tricky because the condition was an issue. We really anticipated the time attack, we took the risk and I think I did the time in the worst moment of the condition, let’s say, because afterwards, at the end, it was a bit better. 

“But anyway I’m happy, the bike is working amazing and I’m feeling good on the bike. 

“Now, just fine-tuning to the setup, helping me to improve. Tomorrow I will make some different things to try but overall we feel competitive.”