BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
J
orge "The Martinator"
Martin has been through
the wringer since winning
the World Championship in 2024.
Multiple massive crashes that
resulted in career-threatening
injuries and the mental despair
and doubt that followed were the
hallmarks of his title defense last
season, but 2026 brought with it
renewed optimism and a much-
improved Aprilia RS-GP, now the
reference motorcycle in MotoGP.
Martin used it to great effect in
France, taking a dominant Sprint
win on Saturday and overhaul
-
ing longtime leader and Aprilia
Racing teammate Marco Bezzec-
chi on Sunday to deal a psycho-
logical blow to the Italian in their
personal intra-team battle.
In Moto2, Izan Guevara (bLU
cRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2
Boscoscuro) never looked like
losing from the moment he rolled
onto the grid during Friday prac
-
tice and took a five-tenths-of-a-
second win over Manu Gonzalez
(Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP
Kalex) and Ivan Ortola (QJMotor -
El Motorista - MSI Kalex).
In Moto3, the marauder of the
little bike class, Max Quiles (CF
-
MOTO Gaviota Aspar Team KTM)
took a superb wet-weather win
with ease over Adrian Fernandez
(Leopard Racing Honda) and
Matteo Bertelle (Level Up - MTA
KTM), the latter's first podium
since his own injury hell during
2025.
ROUND 4 / MAY 8-10, 2026
BUGATTI CIRCUIT / LE MANS, FRANCE
ROAD RACE I FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
P86
"I'll Be Back"… and he is.
Jorge Martin stayed true to
his word and returned to the
top step of the podium and
now lies just one point off the
World Championship lead.
