Jorge Martin is refusing to panic despite Marc Marquez closing in on the MotoGP championship lead, insisting he still has what it takes to fight for the title.
The Aprilia rider has remained at the top of the standings since the Dutch Grand Prix, but his advantage has been reduced following a difficult run of form. After winning both races at Le Mans, Martin has managed only one Sprint victory in his last 16 races and endured a challenging Aragon weekend without a podium.
Martin finished fifth in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix at Aragon, but he does not believe missing last year's event due to injury was a valid excuse for his struggles this time around.
"I just struggled," Martin said. "We tried to keep everything simple and not touch the bike too much, but in the end I needed some help."
He also pointed out that Marco Bezzecchi, who was among the favourites heading into the weekend, also found the race difficult.
For Martin, the uneven results are part of the learning process as he continues adapting to Aprilia. He believes the key is to keep building speed and confidence rather than becoming too concerned about individual races.
"Some races, we are better. Some races we are worse," he said. "The important thing is to learn, keep building speed and confidence, and head to the next one with optimism."
Source: Grande Premio
The Spaniard is particularly confident heading into the next round at Misano, a circuit he enjoys and where he expects the Aprilia to suit his riding style.
"Misano is a track that I really like, where we have a lot of grip," Martin said. "I think with the Aprilia and my style, we can bounce back and be fast again."
Martin currently leads Marquez by 19 points, while Bezzecchi sits another five points behind the Ducati rider. With the gap between the three title contenders so small, any of them could leave Misano leading the championship.
Martin, however, is not intimidated by Marquez's resurgence.
He considers both Marquez and Bezzecchi genuine title contenders, but remains encouraged by the fact that he is still leading the championship despite admitting he is still learning with Aprilia.
"I feel that, even if I'm still in the learning process, I'm leading. So it's crazy. I'm super happy," Martin said.
"Even if Marc catches up, I think there are some really good races for me, and I hope that everything we learned during these 14 races can help me to fight."
With the championship entering another crucial phase, Martin's confidence could prove just as important as outright pace. If he can rediscover his early-season form at Misano, the title battle could become even tighter heading into the remaining rounds.
