Jorge Martin believes the MotoGP title battle is entering a crucial phase as the championship heads into its demanding Asian and flyaway rounds.
The Aprilia rider arrives at Motegi for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix back at the top of the standings after a strong Austrian weekend, where he finished ahead of reigning champion Marc Marquez in both races.
Martin now holds a 12-point advantage over Marquez with seven rounds remaining, but the championship is far from being a two-rider fight.
Aprilia team-mate Marco Bezzecchi sits third, 42 points behind Martin, while KTM’s Pedro Acosta is another 30 points further back. Acosta has also emerged as a major threat after claiming his maiden MotoGP victory at the Red Bull Ring.
Several other riders could influence the championship battle as the season enters its final stretch. Fabio Di Giannantonio, Ai Ogura, Raul Fernandez and Alex Marquez have all won Grands Prix this season and could take valuable points away from the leading contenders.
The next phase will be particularly demanding, with MotoGP beginning a run of five races across six weekends.
Martin believes Aprilia is entering the Asian tour in a strong position and is keen to maintain the momentum built in Austria.
"The Asian tour begins and we are headed into it at a good time," Martin said.
"We are working very well as a team, and I want to thank Aprilia for the great job they are doing."
Source: Auto Hebdo
The Spaniard also confirmed that he decided against undergoing surgery for an arm-pump issue following the Austrian Grand Prix, allowing him to focus fully on the championship battle.
For Martin, consistency will be particularly important during the upcoming run of races.
"We need to keep moving along this path, maintaining consistency and staying focused on our objectives," he said.
He also expressed his excitement about returning to Japan and racing in front of the country’s passionate MotoGP fans.
"An extremely important stage of the championship begins. Let’s go!"
The Motegi weekend also carries an element of unfinished business for Aprilia. Martin suffered a broken collarbone at the Japanese Grand Prix last year after colliding with Bezzecchi at Turn 1 during the Sprint.
Bezzecchi was also hurt in the incident but returned the following day to finish fourth in the Grand Prix.
The Italian is now heading back to a circuit he enjoys after taking third place in both races at the Austrian Grand Prix. He believes Aprilia can continue its recent progress in Japan.
"It will be really great to go to Japan. I can’t wait to meet all the fans," Bezzecchi said.
"I like the Motegi track very much, and we did pretty well there last year. Our goal is to have a good weekend and continue the work we’ve been doing."
With Martin leading Marquez by only 12 points and Bezzecchi and Acosta still within striking distance, the Japanese Grand Prix marks the beginning of a critical period in the 2026 MotoGP championship.
The pressure will only increase as the series moves through the remaining flyaway races, making consistency and avoiding costly mistakes increasingly important for everyone still chasing the title.
