Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin will embark on a new challenge in MotoGP in 2025 with Aprilia – but the Spaniard had been tipped to race elsewhere.
The 26-year-old became the first independent team rider to win the premier class last season with Pramac. Despite only winning three races, Martin’s consistency gave him the edge as he beat factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia to the title by 10 points.
Bagnaia won 11 of the 20 races in 2024, but his three retirements proved costly. Martin was only off the podium four times and failed to finish only twice all season.
Ahead of the 2025 campaign, Martin was linked with the second factory Ducati seat next to Bagnaia after Enea Bastianini confirmed his exit. Marco Melandri says Martin was told the Ducati seat was his for this season.
However, the Bologna-based outfit opted to sign Marc Marquez instead. This prompted Martin to leave Ducati entirely and move to Aprilia as a factory rider.
Jorge Martin reacted with ‘calmness’ to Ducati snub
Marquez’s ‘beastly’ pull as a six-time champion is what landed him the seat over Martin. But the 2024 champion did not let that faze him.
Speaking with the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com, Martin’s manager Albert Valera says he did not react to losing out on Ducati with ‘anger’.
Instead, his reaction was one of ‘calmness’, and this is what allowed him ‘to face the rest of the season the way he did’.
“Like I said, we don’t have an ego problem. When you have too much ego, it prevents you from seeing things clearly and sleeping well,” said Valera.
“It makes you waste time getting angry over comments like this. But if there’s one rider who doesn’t let these kinds of things affect him, it’s Jorge, and that makes me relax.
“We’re above these kinds of comments. When Ducati discarded us, Jorge’s sentiment wasn’t one of anger but of calmness, and that’s what allowed him to face the rest of the season the way he did.
“Knowing where he was going to race in the next few years, that he would be happy, that his future was assured, and that it was over, for better or for worse, and his chapter with Ducati, were the real secret to the title he won in 2024.”
Can Jorge Martin compete at Aprilia in 2025?
Martin will face the difficult challenge of defending his title in 2025. He will be piloting weaker machinery at Aprilia compared to what he had at Ducati.
The Spaniard will have more pressure to deliver the results as the reigning champion. After all, Martin will sport the number one on his Aprilia in 2025, swapping out his traditional number 89.
Aprilia may have paid Martin extra to have the number one on his bike. This will put even more expectation on his shoulders to fight at the front alongside teammate Marco Bezzecchi.
Massimo Rivola has high hopes for his ‘explosive’ rider pairing in 2025. But it seems Martin is not expecting immediate success.
Martin says he cannot win the title in 2025 as he focuses his attention on 2026. But the 26-year-old will be full of confidence heading into this season off the back of his maiden title.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
