Jorge Martin replaced his close friend Aleix Espargaro at Aprilia this season, but the Spaniards could be set to unite at Honda as the former has triggered his exit clause.
The reigning riders’ champion has only contested one round of the 2025 MotoGP season so far due to Martin sustaining a number of injuries. Yet he has seen enough from the plight of the other Aprilia riders to already want out of his two-year contract with the Italian factory.
Trackhouse rookie Ai Ogura is the highest-ranked Aprilia rider in the 2025 standings in only 10th place with 43 points, 128 fewer than Marc Marquez – the man Ducati chose ahead of Martin. Marco Bezzecchi is the top works Aprilia rider in 12th on 38 points after six rounds.
So, Martin told Aprilia of his intent to leave at Le Mans, as the 27-year-old’s contract boasts an exit clause based on his championship position. The clause only became active after the French Grand Prix and Martin has zero points since joining Aprilia owing to his lack of races.
Aleix Espargaro has ‘no doubt’ Honda can fight for the title under MotoGP’s 2027 regulations
Now, Martin could follow Espargaro to Honda next year as the latter joined as an official test rider after retiring from Grand Prix racing. Honda are working hard to put a deal together to sign Martin, but he knows they have the financial weight to pay top dollar to get a top rider.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend
Espargaro also knows Honda have the financial muscle to make the RC213V a race-winning bike after what he’s seen since joining from Aprilia. The 35-year-old even thinks Honda can fight for the top positions as soon as 2026 and then a title with MotoGP’s 2027 regulations.
“I believe it 100%,” Espargaro told Marca. “Honda are the greatest power in this sport. They have a very clear objective, to win races again. There are no half measures. The test team they have created is extremely strong, with a very high level and no matter what the cost.
“It’s just a matter of one thing, time. We need time [as] we need to build the project. But I think they’ve taken a step forward from last year to this one and they will continue to do so. I have no doubt that Honda will win races again in the relatively short term. I would like to say that before the regulation changes, before 2027, there will already be Honda podiums.
“If in this time they are able to properly organise all the material we have and are able to find more power in the 2026 engine, I think 2026 could be a year in which we fight for the top five in the world. And I have no doubt that the 2027 bike will be a prototype to fight for the world championship.”
Jorge Martin could follow Aleix Espargaro to Honda after triggering his Aprilia exit clause
It would come as no surprise if Martin triggered the exit clause in his contract at Aprilia after speaking with Espargaro about Honda’s bike. The defending MotoGP champion also told the Noale outfit of his intention to leave before Johann Zarco won the French GP for LCR Honda.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Aprilia from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy
It was the first time that a non-Ducati bike won a Grand Prix since Maverick Vinales won the 2024 Americas GP for Aprilia. The RS-GP has rarely looked like a race-winner since the race in Austin, as well, so Martin has given Aprilia six more races to show any improvement now.
He seemingly accepts that it would be extreme for the Spaniard to jump ship already having only contested one round due to his injuries. But Martin’s future will remain in the spotlight, whilst watching the other Aprilia riders, as he is unlikely to return by the German Grand Prix.
While Aprilia are desperate to keep Martin to have one star rider on their RS-GP in 2026, the Noale outfit are considering replacements. One option could even lead to a graduation from Moto2, as Diogo Moreira could join Trackhouse if Aprilia can poach Ogura to replace Martin.
KTM are unlikely to sign Martin if he leaves Aprilia, as the Austrian squad still have a grudge over how he used a similar performance-linked clause to leave them for Ducati. The Madrid took advantage of the 2020 MotoGP season still being on pause due to Covid-19 to get out.
