Aprilia will have to face the media for the first time since news broke that Jorge Martin may potentially leave them at the end of the 2025 MotoGP season.
Almost immediately after the French Grand Prix, a report came out detailing that the Spaniard is ready to find a way to break free from his Aprilia deal before the end of the campaign.
One of the more confusing aspects is a link to a performance clause, which is strange given that Martin hasn’t been able to finish a Grand Prix for them yet, and has no real data from which to judge them.
Even if he does give them six MotoGP races to prove themselves, it wouldn’t be enough time to truly integrate with the team and bike. It looks as though the Italian manufacturer will lose their superstar.
Aprilia’s rivals may snub Martin due to his approach to 2025, and wanting to break free from his current deal without doing anything for them.
Despite not really having him around this year, Martin’s potential exit may create an Aprilia mess, which current teammate Marco Bezzecchi, who is already struggling, cannot fix.
Aprilia ‘might’ take unusual approach to Jorge Martin situation at the British Grand Prix
Martin’s options are going to be limited for 2026, given his current injury situation and poor relationship with some of the manufacturers.
The consensus appears to be that Martin wants to sign for Honda, which could be timely given their recent improvements.
The Race’s Matt Beer predicts that Aprilia will do something none of their rivals would with questions about the 27-year-old at the upcoming British Grand Prix.
“Of all the teams in the paddock who are going to not do that because Aprilia, hopefully, someone at Aprilia is listening and will live up to this but I’m confident you will,” he said.
“Aprilia has its eyes open enough to go, the whole world is talking about this, we know it has been reported by journalists who would know from the right sources that this is the case. We’ve got to address this. Massimo Rivola will, obviously there will be legal considerations because it’s all contract-based.
“But it’s not like Aprilia is going to completely shut down every bit of conversation about this in the way that I think probably, the other four teams actually might.”
Is Jorge Martin public enemy number one if he decides to leave Aprilia for 2026?
Aprilia’s relationship with Martin is now ‘destroyed’, and it’s not the first time that he has caused a bit of unrest with a move.
Last year, he departed the Ducati satellite team Pramac, and the partnership between the two may still be ongoing if he hadn’t left.
He also found a performance clause loophole while at KTM in Moto2, while in line for a promotion to the premier class after the COVID-affected season in 2020.
Instead, he forced his way out and found his way onto a Ducati. In other words, there are three manufacturers with whom he ended things on a frosty note.
The fans will want to see a rider of Martin’s calibre competing, but playing musical chairs isn’t going to help him win another title. He needs to settle somewhere and he’s running out of options.
