Jorge Martin won his first MotoGP riders’ championship in the final round of the season after a year-long duel with Francesco Bagnaia.
The Spaniard finished third at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which was good enough for Martin to take the title despite Bagnaia winning the Solidarity Grand Prix of Barcelona.
Martin was consistent over the season and took advantage of his championship rival making critical errors throughout the year as Bagnaia bid to become a three-time title-winner.
Yet Ducati let Martin slip through their fingers and he has switched from Pramac to Aprilia for the 2025 season. The Bologna Bullets opted against promoting the new champion in favour of Marc Marquez replacing Enea Bastianini.
Martin is already getting up to speed with his new Aprilia bike during post-season testing in Barcelona on Tuesday. But it was not the debut outing he would have craved after crashing at the downhill left-hander of Turn 5.
This test is very important, particularly for riders moving teams for next season, to adjust to their new bikes ahead of the new campaign.
MotoGP fans are doubting whether Jorge Martins’ move to Aprilia was the right decision
Martin had a difficult opening day of testing with Aprilia. He crashed at Turn 5, which is a turn he is usually very good at.
He is one of the riders that can get low down to the kerb with his shoulder touching the red and white paint on the track.
READ MORE: How Jorge Martin was ‘completely shocked’ after winning his first MotoGP championship in Barcelona
The new champion’s difficult episode at his home track caught the attention of @Tinmachine43, who began to doubt Martin’s judgement in his move to Aprilia.
They said: “I can’t believe he thought a move to Aprillia was a good one.”
More fans were doubtful over the Spaniard’s decision to leave Pramac after such a successful season, and @16zx10r feels Martin moved teams too early.
They wrote: “He will regret the move by week 2 next year. He just had to stay patient in Ducati and let the chips fall where they are instead of jumping the gun and signing with Aprilia.”
Martin took the title amidst a battle of fine margins against his nearest championship rival, Bagnaia, who pushed him to the final round.
@amirzfmotogp was surprised to see the Aprilia rider make an error at Turn 5 and speculated how it a similar mistake would have changed the title battle.
It is still very early days for Martin as he adjusts to his new surroundings at Aprilia after moving teams. Some errors like this are almost inevitable as top riders need to find the limit of grip.
@DDEvans23 was exercising caution in their assessment of Martin’s day in Barcelona and explained that he may have had very little choice for a ride in 2025.
“It’s his first day on the bike, and you’re acting as if he had any other choice, he wasn’t going to go to Yamaha or Honda, KTM had already made their mind up on Acosta, no way he was staying at a Satellite team.”
Martin had a very good season in MotoGP, but some fans have been more critical of Martin. @gueenaa_ shared their opinion that the Aprilia rider isn’t among the top MotoGP champions.
They said: “The worst world champion.”
Jorge Martin will have more time to adjust to his new Aprilia bike
Martin will return to Barcelona before next season starts with the Grand Prix of Thailand on the second of March.
This track time should allow the reigning champion to become more comfortable with his new bike before the new season begins.
It will be a very competitive season with Martin moving teams and Bagnaia and Marc Marquez spending next year as teammates at Ducati Lenovo.
Martin will be eagerly anticipating the rounds in Portugal at Le Mans and in Indonesia where he took victory this season on his way to the title.
A good start, just like this year, will be as important as dropping valuable points in the early rounds with a very high level of competition.