Marco Bezzecchi
Ducati informed Jorge Martin that he wouldn’t receive a factory seat following last season’s Grand Prix of Italy. Instead, the spot alongside Francesco Bagnaia went to Marc Marquez.
Luigi Dall’Igna and Ducati had wrestled with their dilemma. Martin was fighting for the world championship – and he eventually won it – but Marquez had taken six titles in seven seasons between 2013 and 2019.
Martin suffered an untimely DNF in the Sprint at Mugello, losing control of his bike as he tried to pursue Marquez. He finished one spot ahead of his compatriot in the Grand Prix, but was pipped by Enea Bastianini at the end of the race.
Perhaps that unconvincing performance under the spotlight played a role in Ducati’s decision. But the team will say they took everything into account.
Martin resolved that he wouldn’t accept another season at a satellite squad despite his success at Pramac. He had offers from KTM and Aprilia, choosing to join the latter.
He’ll form an all-new line-up at the Noale outfit alongside Marco Bezzecchi. Maverick Vinales made a surprise move to Tech3, while Aleix Espargaro, who’s taken on a mentor role for Martin, is now semi-retired as a Honda test rider.
Jorge Martin was ‘not that sad’ after Ducati denied him a seat, Aleix Espargaro says
Speaking on MotoGP’s ‘There Can Be Only One‘ documentary, Espargaro recounted the hours after Ducati’s Mugello decision. Martin’s manager Albert Valera was apparently in tears.
But the rider himself was far more composed. Despite having very little time to process the rejection, he was remarkably circumspect.
Feeling undervalued, Martin had already decided to leave the Ducati stable. And Espargaro assured him he’d beat the Bologna squad on rival machinery.
“After the Mugello race, I remember seeing Albert crying,” Espargaro said. “He told me that they decided [to go] for Marc.
“It was a shock. Jorge came to my motorhome at eight, and he left at midnight. We spent four hours thinking, watching movies, talking.
“He felt that he was not as good, as important as he thought for Ducati. Jorge was not that angry or that sad.
“He said to me ‘this is life, they decided’. I remember perfectly me saying ‘we’re going to beat them in the future with another [bike].”
Marc Marquez paid Jorge Martin a compliment in conversation with Carlos Sainz
Espargaro’s comments are in line with Valera’s message. He claimed that Martin showed complete ‘calmness’ despite missing out on his desired seat.
Aprilia aren’t expected to challenge Ducati this term, having finished a chasmic 531 points behind in 2024. As the reigning champion and a former rider, he may find it inescapably difficult if Marquez and Bagnaia sprint away from the rest of the pack.
But the success of his decision should only be judged long-term. Aprilia know that acquiring one of the top talents on the grid presents an opportunity, and they’ll surely invest heavily to take it.
At the same time, the loss will weaken Ducati. Speaking to F1 driver Carlos Sainz in Jerez last year, Marquez praised Martin’s performance in slow corners, having been impressed by his data.
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