Aprilia and Jorge Martin are in a difficult situation as the defending MotoGP champion is looking to become a free agent in 2026.
The Spaniard signed a two-year factory contract with the Noale outfit after winning the 2024 title with Pramac Ducati. With Marco Bezzecchi alongside Martin, optimism was high at Aprilia for the future.
But that has been shattered by the 27-year-old’s injuries in 2025. Missing the first three rounds with hand and foot fractures, Martin crashed on his MotoGP return in Qatar and suffered 11 broken ribs and a pneumothorax.
Martin aims to return before the summer break, but many are wondering if he will ever race for Aprilia again. The Spaniard has activated an exit clause in his contract that allows him to leave if he is not in a top position after the first six races.
Martin has offered to extend the trial period for another six races from when he returns, but Aprilia have rejected this proposal as they say the exit clause is invalid due to his injuries.
Aprilia feel Martin is not being truthful about his decision to leave, as they think he is using the clause as an ‘excuse’ to switch manufacturers. With Honda preparing a three-year deal, the two parties are in a messy situation that could end up in court.
Aprilia made a ‘mess’ with Jorge Martin’s contract that Carlo Pernat only saw once with Cal Crutchlow at Ducati
The Noale outfit are trying everything to keep their star rider on board for 2026, as they refuse to acknowledge the exit clause in his contract. Aprilia have even taken out newspaper ads to convince Martin to stay.
But having an exit clause in the first place has created a ‘mess’ of a situation, says Carlo Pernat. Writing in his column for Motociclismo, he says he does not understand why Aprilia gave Martin the option to leave his two-year deal early.
Pernat has only ever seen Ducati do this with Cal Crutchlow in 2014, where the Brit broke his contract to join Honda: “The problem, in my opinion, lies in how that contract was made at the time,” he said.
“Let’s face it, the mess started at Mugello when Martín was informed that Márquez was the chosen one for the official Ducati pit, which caused incredible pain for Martín himself.
“His manager, Albert Valera, who is very good, understood that at that moment the only solution was through Aprilia and it was necessary to move immediately.
“At that time, no one wanted to go to Honda; Yamaha already had Quartararo and it wasn’t a possibility, and KTM didn’t want him because he had already broken a contract with them years ago.
“Massimo Rivola should have known all this. I don’t understand a contract that gives the rider the option to decide whether to stay or not. For me, it’s Valera’s victory and Rivola’s defeat. It’s one thing to reach an agreement at Mugello, but a week later you sit down to make the final contract.
“I only remember one time when a manufacturer gave the rider the option to break a two-year contract. When Ducati signed Cal Crutchlow. We’re talking about 2014, the Englishman had a two-season contract, but they gave the rider the option to terminate it.”
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Martin had a surprising change of emotion when he made an appearance at Aprilia’s All Stars event at Misano last weekend. He was seen ‘smiling’ and ‘relaxed’ as he rode a bike for the first time since Qatar.
Aprilia fans chanted for Martin to stay, but the Spaniard seems to have his sights set on a move to Honda for 2026.
The Japanese manufacturer will not make a move on the 27-year-old while he is under contract at Aprilia. Honda are prepared to double Martin’s salary, with the consensus being that he will join the factory team.
However, there is a chance he could end up at a satellite outfit. Martin could be an option for Tech3 if Honda buy the team from KTM; the Japanese outfit want to have a second satellite team by 2027, but could bring the French team on board as early as next season.
