Jorge Martin has activated an exit clause in his Aprilia contract after making just one appearance for the team. It’s a sensational decision that could ignite the MotoGP rider market.
As is a matter of course, Martin’s camp inserted a provision into his deal allowing him to leave if he was below a certain position in the championship. However, it seems Aprilia didn’t include an injury as a disqualifying factor.
Martin is currently 26th and last in the standings after crashing out on his sole outing at the Qatar GP. He’d missed the first three rounds with hand and foot injuries.
And Martin is now in a race to be back before the summer break after suffering 11 rib fractures and a punctured lung at Lusail. VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio hit him as he fell from the bike.
Aprilia have struggled in his absence. Teammate Marco Bezzecchi was sixth in two of the first three races, but has come home 14th in the last two.
Trackhouse rookie Ai Ogura is responsible for the manufacturer’s best result (P5 in Thailand), but they still sit bottom of the constructors’. Massimo Rivola would argue that this is due to their strongest rider being unavailable, with stand-in Lorenzo Savadori largely off the pace.
Jorge Martin has given Aprilia six races to make an improvement
Martin isn’t committed to leaving Aprilia just yet. The French GP, round six out of 22, marked a contractual deadline.
The Spaniard now has the right to leave should he desire, but he’s willing to give Aprilia time. According to AS, Martin has told the Noale outfit they have six races to prove why he should stay for 2026.
| ROUND | RACE | DATE |
| 7 | British Grand Prix | 25 May |
| 8 | Grand Prix of Aragon | 8 June |
| 9 | Grand Prix of Italy | 22 June |
| 10 | Dutch TT | 29 June |
| 11 | Grand Prix of Germany | 13 July |
| 12 | Grand Prix of Czechia | 20 July |
| 13 | Grand Prix of Austria | 17 August |
| 14 | Grand Prix of Hungary | 24 August |
| 15 | Grand Prix of Catalunya | 7 September |
| 16 | Grand Prix of San Marino | 14 September |
That would mean he’ll make a final decision after Brno on 20 July. It’s unclear if the 27-year-old will be able to feature in any of those races.
Sky Sport Italia offer an alternative timeline of the Misano GP in mid-September. But they say Aprilia will demand he respect his initial two-year commitment regardless.
What Jorge Martin did in secret in Le Mans paddock last weekend
Martin has been linked with his Honda, who just returned to the top step of the podium through LCR’s Johann Zarco. The Japanese giants aren’t willing to sign him unless he can make a clean break with Aprilia.
Before the season started, Martin suggested Aprilia could win the title in 2026. He clearly has major doubts over their prospects after what he’s seen so far this year.
He’s not entirely given up hope, which suggests Rivola’s squad may have some significant developments in the pipeline.
Martin secretly visited the French GP paddock last weekend, with his motive initially unclear. It’s now emerged that he held several meetings, including a difficult one with his own team.
