Jorge Martin has been heavily linked with a move to Honda after he announced his intention to leave Aprilia in 2025.
The defending MotoGP champion has activated an exit clause in his two-year contract. It allows him to leave if he is not in the top five of the standings after the first six races.
Martin has not completed a race in 2025, having missed pre-season and the opening three rounds with multiple hand fractures, before suffering a pneumothorax and 11 broken ribs on his return in Qatar. Despite his limited appearances for Aprilia, he is unsatisfied with their current state.
The Noale-based outfit have struggled in the Spaniard’s absence, with Marco Bezzecchi and Lorenzo Savadori lacking consistency and pace on the RS-GP25. Bezzecchi may have influenced Martin’s decision to leave Aprilia after talking to him about the bike.
Aprilia say the exit clause is invalid as the 27-year-old has barely ridden the RS-GP in 2025. Martin proposed to extend the period for another six races from the point he returns, but this was turned down.
The Spaniard cannot move teams until he breaks his contract, with Honda preparing to double Martin’s salary. It is a messy situation not just for Aprilia and Martin, but also for Honda and their current crop of riders.
Johann Zarco is not ‘the priority’ for Honda as they pursue Jorge Martin deal
Martin will likely join the factory HRC team if a deal with Honda is made. Luca Marini is out of contract at the end of the season, opening the door for the Spaniard to take the seat.
However, the MotoGP rider market could see further moves due to the champion’s bombshell. Joan Mir’s future is uncertain as Honda consider other options for 2026.
LCR rider Johann Zarco has been linked with a factory seat after he stated his intentions to join HRC following his historic win at Le Mans. However, with Martin now in the picture, Zarco is likely to stay at LCR.
Speaking on MotoGP’s preview of the British Grand Prix, LCR chief Lucio Cecchinello says ‘the priority’ for Honda is to look at other ‘solutions’. He has his ‘fingers crossed’ that he can keep working with Zarco – the Frenchman is also out of contract in 2025.
“Again, I respect a lot, HRC, with all the support they are doing and the collaboration, the strong collaboration we have with them,” he said.
“I believe that their wish is to keep Zarco on the LCR environment because everything is well already settled and it’s functioning pretty well.
“I believe that their priority probably is to look for some other solutions, but at the very end, the reality is that they will have the final word.
“So I keep my fingers crossed to keep continuing to work with Johann, but I still don’t know 100%.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Johann Zarco from career stats to net worth
What could Honda’s rider line-up look like in 2026?
Having two seats available for 2026, Honda’s rider pool could look very different this time next year. Martin will certainly be the priority if his awkward situation at Aprilia is resolved.
Zarco is set to stay with the satellite outfit, although it is still entirely possible that he could join the factory team. Zarco will sacrifice a factory seat if LCR offers him a two-year deal and a current-spec bike.
It is understood that Honda are talking to Marini about his future. The Italian could be demoted to LCR in 2026, although Somkiat Chantra has a contract with the team until next season.
Pedro Acosta has been linked with Honda, but the 20-year-old seems set on a move to Ducati. Toprak Razgatlioglu is another option, with the Turkish rider being tipped for a move to MotoGP from WSBK in either 2026 or 2027.
