Luca Marini could see Jorge Martin replace him at Honda, but the Italian might not be the only rider looking over their shoulder now the Spaniard is keen on leaving Aprilia.
The MotoGP rider market has been put into overdrive with the news that Martin told Aprilia at Le Mans he intends to activate an exit clause in the reigning champion’s two-year contract. His decision stunned the Noale team, who signed the 27-year-old to join in the 2025 season.
Martin has tracked Aprilia’s performances during his injury lay-offs this season and does not feel the RS-GP25 is at the level the Italian squad promised him during their negotiations. So, Martin is taking advantage of his agent, Albert Valera, adding an exit clause at the final hour.
Trackhouse rookie Ai Ogura has scored the most points on an RS-GP25 so far this year, with the 24-year-old earning 43 to sit 10th in the championship. Marco Bezzechi boasts 38 of the works Aprilia team’s 46 points to sit 12th in the standings, 133 points behind Marc Marquez.
Jorge Martin leaving Aprilia increases the chances that Honda replace Luca Marini
Martin had to be in the top three of the 2025 MotoGP riders’ championship after the French Grand Prix at Le Mans for the exit clause in his Aprilia contract to become invalid. But he sits 26th and last ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, having failed to score any points.
In contrast, Johann Zarco has shown the potential that the Honda RC213V is now capable of. The LCR rider is sixth in the standings with 72 points after Zarco won the French GP. And the Frenchman’s form may cost Marini, as Honda are prepared to double Martin’s Aprilia salary.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend
Marini already faced an uncertain future on the grid with his contract to race for the factory Honda team over at the end of the 2025 MotoGP season. But Martin’s potential availability increases the prospect he leaves Honda, which may also be bad news for Franco Morbidelli.
Like Marini, Morbidelli is out of contract at the end of this year with VR46 Racing Team, and the 30-year-old could see Valentino Rossi try to welcome his half-brother back to the Italian team. Marini rode for VR46 in Moto2 from 2018 to 2020 and in MotoGP from 2021 to 2023.
A return to VR46 may appeal to Marini, who left to replace Marc Marquez at Honda in 2024, as it would provide him with a Ducati again. The 27-year-old has not finished any Grand Prix higher than his eighth place in the 2025 Americas GP since his third in the 2023 Qatar GP.
VR46 rider Franco Morbidelli could lose out if Jorge Martin replaces Luca Marini at Honda
Morbidelli, then, could become the innocent victim of Martin leaving Aprilia should the 27-year-old join Honda to replace Marini, who then returns to VR46. The 30-year-old may also learn his fate soon, as VR46 have until August to extend Morbidelli’s contract through 2026.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Franco Morbidelli from net worth to career stats
So, the Roman may have just six rounds to convince Rossi against re-hiring his half-brother, starting from the British GP at Silverstone – a circuit that has seldom suited Morbidelli. The VR46 rider has only had two top-10 finishes at Silverstone in MotoGP and only one top-five.
Petronas Yamaha SRT saw Morbidelli record his best finish at a British GP to date back in the 2019 MotoGP season with P5. Pramac even only saw the Italian claim his second top-10 in a British GP in 2024 with P10. He missed the 2021 running due to an ACL and meniscus injury.
But even scoring a rare result in the 2025 British GP, having earned 15th in 2022 and 14th in 2023, might not be enough to show Rossi that VR46 should retain Morbidelli. He is fourth in the standings ahead of going to Silverstone after taking two P3 and two P4 finishes this year.
Morbidelli is also still searching for his fourth win in the premier class and first since 2020 as the Italian scored all three of his MotoGP Grand Prix victories en route to second to Joan Mir for the 2020 championship. His wins came at Misano, Aragon and the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
