Aprilia rider Jorge Martin claims first win in French MotoGP event

Jorge Martin Wins French Grand Prix, Closes Gap on Championship Leader

Spanish rider Jorge Martin secured his first MotoGP victory in 588 days at the French Grand Prix on Sunday, moving within striking distance of his Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi in the championship standings. The win marked a significant turnaround for Martin, who had struggled with crashes and injuries throughout the 2025 season.

Martin started from seventh on the grid but charged forward to overtake race leader Bezzecchi with three laps remaining. He secured his first win since winning the 2024 title, which came after a forgettable season. “I’m so grateful to all the fans,” Martin said in an emotional post-race interview.

The victory moved Martin to within one point of championship leader Bezzecchi after five rounds. Aprilia’s satellite team, Trackhouse, completed the podium with Ai Ogura finishing third for the Italian manufacturer. This marked the first-ever podium sweep for Ducati, while Ogura became the first Japanese rider on the podium in 14 years.

Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia crashed out of second place, allowing Bezzecchi to maintain his lead. Martin initially struggled with heavy traffic but seized an opportunity when Bagnaia crashed, moving past Pedro Acosta to second and then methodically hunting down Bezzecchi.

The win marked a significant moment for Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola, who expressed confidence in the team’s dynamics despite the close championship standings between Martin and Bezzecchi. “They are smart people, they are fighters,” Rivola said. “As long as they respect each other, I’m fine.”

Source: Al Jazeera