Overview
- Martin moved to the top of the championship after finishing third at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday following Marco Bezzecchi’s early crash.
- He led the early stages at Assen but was passed late by Trackhouse riders Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura when he began to struggle with rear temperature and high‑speed corner pace.
- Martin says he is not physically 100 percent and has missed significant running because he missed most of 2025 and skipped the first 2026 test, so he is prioritizing mileage over risky attacks.
- Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola publicly praised Martin for settling for third rather than fighting back, calling the conservative decision a smart way to protect points for the championship.
- The title fight is now tighter with Bezzecchi’s non‑score and strong showings from Trackhouse, making Sachsenring the next key weekend for Martin to convert his provisional lead into a durable advantage.