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| Jorge Martin’s Aprilia Future in Doubt Amid Contract Drama and Injury Setback. |
The situation between MotoGP star Jorge Martin and Aprilia is quickly turning into one of the biggest off-track stories of the season. Despite not having completed a full race yet with his new team, Martin’s future with Aprilia is already hanging in the balance.
MotoGP analyst Neil Hodgson from TNT Sports didn’t hold back in his assessment:
“It’s a mess. We were told it was a two-year deal, but nobody mentioned this clause. You just assume contracts will roll over like usual, but Jorge had to decide if he wanted to stay—and he hasn’t even finished a race yet!”
Two-Year Deal? Not Quite…
While the contract was initially reported to last two seasons, it turns out there’s a catch. Martin has a specific clause that allows both parties to reassess the deal after the first year. However, this evaluation window came and went while Martin was recovering from a serious injury.
According to Hodgson, Martin asked Aprilia to postpone the decision point, but the team refused.
“He asked Aprilia if they could move the evaluation forward, but they said, ‘No, we have to honor the deal—yes or no now.’ And he said no.”
Could This Be the End Before It Even Starts?
While nothing is officially confirmed, things are looking shaky. Both Martin and Aprilia are trying to find common ground, but so far, it seems like they’re at a standoff. Hodgson predicts Martin may walk away by the end of 2025.
This wouldn’t be the first time Martin made a bold career move. Back in his Moto2 days, he left KTM for Pramac Ducati—a choice that eventually paid off big time. In 2024, he won the MotoGP title with Pramac but was overlooked for a factory seat, which instead went to Marc Marquez.
Feeling snubbed, Martin accepted an offer from Aprilia. But things took a bad turn right away.
A Nightmare Start with Injuries
Martin suffered a major crash during pre-season testing, forcing him to sit out the start of the season. When he finally made his debut in Qatar, he crashed again—this time injuring his ribs and a lung. There’s still no set timeline for his return.
“He’s Aprilia’s lead rider and the key to developing their bike,” Hodgson said. “But now he won’t be back for another month at least. That’s a tough spot.”
Aprilia Proving They Can Win Without Him?
In Martin’s absence, Aprilia celebrated a surprise win at the British MotoGP with Marco Bezzecchi. Team boss Massimo Rivola took the moment to highlight that the bike is still capable of winning—arguably a subtle message aimed at Martin.
It was a bold statement, suggesting the team doesn’t necessarily need Martin to stay competitive. But was it just mind games, or a hint at a looming split?
So where does that leave Jorge Martin and Aprilia? With the contract clause already expired, tensions high, and no sign of a quick return, this partnership may be ending before it ever really began.
One thing’s for sure—MotoGP fans are watching this unfold closely. Will Martin stay and try to make it work? Or will he move on like he has before?
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