Jorge Martin may have taken over the MotoGP championship lead after the Dutch Grand Prix, but the Aprilia rider believes his strongest performances are still to come.
Martin moved to the top of the standings following a third-place finish at Assen, where former championship leader Marco Bezzecchi crashed out early. The result handed the Spaniard a seven-point advantage heading into the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.
Despite leading the title race, Martin played down the significance of his position with more than half of the season still remaining.
"I don't really care about being first, second or third. At this point of the championship, it's not really important," he said.
Instead, Martin's attention remains on improving both his physical condition and his performance on the Aprilia RS-GP.
The Spaniard admitted he is still recovering from injuries sustained in several crashes earlier this season and revealed he struggled with back pain throughout the Assen weekend.
"I'm not 100% physically. I struggled quite a lot with my back this weekend," Martin said.
Even so, he has enjoyed an impressive first half of the campaign, collecting five podium finishes, including one victory, across the opening 10 rounds to emerge as a genuine title favourite.
Source: Autosport
Martin also believes there is still more performance to unlock from his motorcycle. While he previously suggested he was beginning to feel fully comfortable with the Aprilia, he now admits the team is still searching for the ideal base setup.
"I'm not at my 100% with the bike," he said. "I just need to keep working to improve my physical condition and find a better feeling with the bike. I don't know where the limit is, so we will continue pushing to be ready for the final races of the season."
The championship battle remains one of the closest in recent years. Martin leads Bezzecchi by seven points, while Fabio Di Giannantonio sits just 16 points behind the championship leader. Only 63 points separate the top eight riders, leaving the title fight wide open as the season enters its second half.
Martin expects several riders to remain in contention and is focused on his own performances rather than the standings.
"There are a lot of opponents. We are in MotoGP and there are six or seven riders who can fight for the championship," he said. "I will try to focus on myself and improve every race. Hopefully that gives me the chance to fight for the title until the end, no matter who my rivals are."
With the summer break approaching, Martin hopes the extra time will allow him to fully recover and continue developing the Aprilia as he prepares for what could be a decisive run towards the 2026 MotoGP crown.
