Jorge Martin has identified braking technique as a key difference between Aprilia and Ducati.
After a disrupted debut season with Aprilia and limited winter testing, the former world champion has emerged as one of the surprises of 2026.
Martin has stood on the podium in each of the last four races, including a maiden Aprilia victory in the COTA Sprint, and holds second in the world championship behind team-mate Marco Bezzecchi.
According to Martin, his rise has been fuelled by a combination of aerodynamics and changing how he brakes on the RS-GP.
“I think the [latest] aerodynamics was the key for me,” Martin said in the USA. “I felt good straight away.
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“Also, I changed the style… I changed a bit how I brake, and that’s why I feel much better on the Aprilia.”
Martin didn’t want to give away details but explained that the revised braking technique – already used by Bezzecchi – is “very different” compared to what was required on the Ducati.
“I don’t want to go really into it; I don’t want to help the others… For sure Marco got it already,” he said.
“It’s just much more different to the Ducati, where braking was also a strong point, but completely another kind of approach with the brake lever.”
Aprilia’s strength under braking was also noted by Francesco Bagnaia after Martin’s last-lap Sprint victory over the factory Ducati rider.
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“You guys have improved your braking loads, you’re really strong now,” Bagnaia told Martin on the way to the COTA podium.
Bagnaia is expected to replace Martin at Aprilia next season, with the Spaniard widely linked with a move to Yamaha.
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