MotoGP champion Jorge Martin admits that Aprilia “will not accept what I want” following his first race on the bike at the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint.
Jorge Martin made his long-awaited Aprilia race debut on Saturday evening at the Lessile Circuit, and was sidelined with multiple injuries from the first day of the Sepang Pre-Season Test in February.
Martin, who came in 14th right behind his teammate Marco Betzecki, ended up at 16th after battling just outside the top 10 in the early stages of Saturday’s 11-lap sprint.
Martin believes that the “potential is huge” for the RS-GP, but says it needs to improve its riding position on the bike, and is now trying to do what Prilius did with Ducati, which he says is “not accepting.”
“It was good to see the checkered flag and not crash, make more wrap,” he said.
“Yesterday I was able to rap just two laps in a row. I did 11 today, so I think this step is huge.
“We need to continue like this, I feel like I’m not in the best position on the bike, so everything is really physical, not just for my hands but for my own position.
“So we need to work on this, and Aprilia needs to understand how it can help them have a more natural riding style.
“I think the chances are very high. I think I’ll be able to go in the second quarter in my first race with Aprilia today, in my normal state.
“So I think we’re in a good position. And then we’re a little more struggling in terms of pace.
“I don’t feel like I’m riding well. Maybe I’m asking what I’m doing from the bike, but I don’t accept the bike.
“So you need to understand how they can help me and how I can help the bike. The first few laps were good, some overtaking, so signs of speed.”
On the third lap of the sprint, Martin overtook what he called his former championship rival Pecco Bagnaia the “slipper” last year.
“It was fun,” he added.
“I think he had some kind of problem. I don’t know what exactly it was.
“But I saw the opportunity to go with the previous rider and I went for it.
“It was certainly a big throwback with Pecco last season. But certainly it wasn’t his position or my natural position. But it was a great race.”
Looking forward to the 22-lap Grand Prix, Martin says his fight in that race will be “with his own” and admits it’s “difficult” to reach the checkered flag.
“I think it’s really difficult to finish tomorrow,” he warned.
“I think you need to find your own pace. Even if I’m racing, my fights aren’t with these people. My fights are with myself and I try to get consistency and get to the end. But that’s going to be difficult.”