Jorge Martin triggering an exit clause in his contract for Aprilia has sent the MotoGP rider market into a frenzy, but the Spaniard is not the only race-winner wanting out.
Much of the talk in the MotoGP rider market so far this year has related to the possibility of Toprak Razgatlioglu finally moving over from World Superbikes or Pedro Acosta jumping ship from KTM. But Martin has stolen the headlines by sharing his intent to leave Aprilia already.
Martin only joined Aprilia on a two-year contract ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season, having missed out on a works Ducati seat to Marc Marquez. Yet the reigning riders’ champion is not happy with the competitiveness of the RS-GP25, despite injuries holding him to just a round.
So, Martin told Aprilia at Le Mans he is triggering an exit clause in the 27-year-old’s deal and wants to leave at the end of this term. The clause became active based on his championship position following the French Grand Prix and, due to his injuries, Martin is yet to get a point.
Enea Bastianini would ‘gladly’ leave KTM Tech3 just six races into a two-year contract
But Martin is not the only rider wanting out of a MotoGP contract they only signed ahead of the 2025 season. Reports by Motosprint now claim that Enea Bastianini would ‘gladly’ leave Tech3 after only six rounds racing for the satellite KTM crew on a two-year factory contract.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Enea Bastianini from net worth to career stats
KTM picked Bastianini up on a works deal to ride for Tech3 after Ducati elected to swap him out for Marquez. But questions now linger over why the 27-year-old agreed to the move, as Bastianini has struggled adapting to KTM’s bike after riding Ducatis since his MotoGP debut.
The Italian is also the worst-ranked KTM rider in the 2025 standings following the French GP. Bastianini has recorded 31 points to trail Acosta (46), Maverick Vinales (40) and Brad Binder (32) among the KTM fold. Bastianini’s best finish on the KTM RC16 so far was P7 in America.
He would even be further behind his rival KTM riders if it were not for Vinales’ tyre pressure infringement in the Qatar Grand Prix demoting the Tech3 racer from P2 to P14. It is the only time any KTM rider has finished in the top three of a Grand Prix on the road so far this term.
Enea Bastianini’s desire to leave Tech3 adds another layer to KTM’s ongoing problems
Signing Bastianini to race for Tech3 last June was a coup for KTM as he arrived after winning seven Grands Prix over his first four years in MotoGP. He also achieved a personal-best nine podiums last term, and is renowned for managing the Michelin tyres to have late-race pace.
READ MORE: Everything to know about KTM Tech3 including the MotoGP team’s riders
But the RC16 has not suited his riding style and it has seen the Rimini native struggle. Tech3 boss Herve Poncharal has even revealed his crew chief Alberto Giribuola told Bastianini that Tech3 cannot turn their KTM into a Ducati, so he needs to learn how to maximise the RC16.
It now remains to be seen how committed Bastianini is to making his time with Tech3 work, though, with the Italian already prepared to leave KTM. It also adds yet another layer to the team’s troubles, with KTM’s financial problems stopping production at their factory in April.
KTM’s parent company Pierer Mobility is battling vast debts, which have sparked questions about the future of the MotoGP operation. Carlo Pernat was stunned KTM signed Bastianini last year despite their knowledge of the Austrian crew’s looming financial problems, as well.
