MotoGP 2025: Why did Aprilia and Jorge Martin celebrate eighth place in GP San Marino practice ‘like pole position?’
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Published 12/09/2025 at 17:11 GMT+1
Aprilia's reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin was given a hero's welcome when he returned to the garage with a place in Q1 safely secured on Friday. "They're celebrating this like pole position," said TNT Sports commentator Gavin Emmett after the Spaniard went eighth-fastest in GP San Marino practice. Martin's effort was described as "a step" after a disrupted season.
Aprilia 'celebrating like a pole position' as Martin comes eighth in GP San Marino practice
Video credit: TNT Sports
There were scenes of celebration in the Aprilia garage at the end of Friday’s GP San Marino practice session – despite neither of their riders finishing top of the timesheets.
MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo) was in a league of his own yet again as he went fastest with a time of 1:30.480 around the Misano circuit.
But viewers who had not seen the final timings could have been forgiven for thinking that Aprilia had set the pace in their home race.
Marco Bezzecchi did finish best of the rest, sitting 0.147 seconds behind Marquez in second place, but it was his team-mate, reigning champion Jorge Martin, who received a raucous reception.
The Spaniard returned to the garage pumping his fist in the air and was greeted with applause, hugs, high-fives and back slaps by his team after finishing eighth.
"They’re celebrating this like pole position for Jorge Martin," said TNT Sports commentator Gavin Emmett as the scenes unfolded.
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Bagnaia goes top in practice to make promising start at Misano - 'Much more like we would expect'
Video credit: TNT Sports
However, Neil Hodgson explained why the team was reacting so strongly after an injury-disrupted year in which Martin has finished only three races and is yet to reach the podium.
"It’s a step, isn’t it? It’s changed. It’s quite common now we see teams almost overreact like this," Hodgson said.
"It’s all about trying to make the rider feel wanted, happy, and give him the confidence."
Martin’s time ensured that he would go straight through to Q2 on Saturday as one of the 10 fastest riders in the session.
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The champion only recently returned to the track after a variety of injuries left him unable to compete in the first half of his debut season with Aprilia.
Martin completed a second race in a row for the first time this season last weekend at GP Catalunya, finishing 10th following his fourth-place effort in Hungary.
Despite still being a distance from the top of the timesheets, Emmett explained the progress on show in Rimini.
"This is Aprilia’s home race and they’re all celebrating like it was a pole position," Emmett said.
"It’s a change from where they were last week. On that occasion, Martin was in Q1, never got through, started 18th.
"Bez (Bezzecchi) was 12th on the grid, having got through, but it didn’t work and then he was taken out."
Martin, who claimed a spectacular maiden MotoGP Championship win on the final day of last season over Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia, will now hope to make an impact at GP San Marino this weekend.
Qualifying begins at 10:50 UK time on Saturday, before the Sprint race at 15:00. Sunday’s Grand Prix begins at 14:00, with all the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Stream every race of the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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