Carlo Pernat slams Aprilia chief who Jorge Martin’s manager ‘caught out’ for one thing ‘you can’t do’

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Jorge Martin has shocked Aprilia with his intent to trigger an exit clause and leave at the end of the 2025 season, despite contesting just one round for them due to injury.

The 27-year-old finally secured his desired move to a factory MotoGP team this season with Aprilia after Ducati rejected Martin to promote Marc Marquez into their works line-up. Yet it has not been a dream term for the Spaniard after having to sit out five of the first six rounds.

Martin made his sole appearance for Aprilia so far at the Qatar Grand Prix to mark his return to action. But the 2024 riders’ champion crashed and was also hit by Fabio Di Giannantonio, leaving Martin with 11 broken ribs and a pneumothorax which may rule him out for months.

But while he has missed the past two rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season and the first three due to complex fractures to his left hand after crashing a Supermoto, after also breaking his right hand and left foot in the Sepang Test, Martin does not like what he’s seen from Aprilia.

Carlo Pernat feels Jorge Martin’s manager ‘caught’ Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola out with his exit clause

It has been reported that Martin has told Aprilia he plans to trigger an exit clause in his two-year contract with the Noale outfit. The Spaniard drove his car to Le Mans last weekend and held talks with the Aprilia management to declare his intent to leave, which shocked Aprilia.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend

While he has only contested one round of the season so far, the Madrid native can now sign with any other team as he is not among the title contenders after the French Grand Prix. He could even sign with another factory as Honda hold a strong interest if Martin leaves Aprilia.

It is a situation that veteran MotoGP rider agent Carlo Pernat feels Aprilia should never have allowed. Pernat even feels Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola was ‘caught out’ by Martin’s manager Albert Valera demanding that he agreed to the Spaniard’s exit clause or risk him not signing.

Pernat has told GP One: “It is clear that Rivola got caught out, and rightly so. I think having the number one and the good manager Valera, who I repeat is good, submitted this clause to him, otherwise he would not sign.”

He added: “There is a clause here where the bike is not performing for the rider. You don’t have to make a contract like that. You can’t do it.”

Jorge Martin has told Aprilia he wants to leave after watching the factory MotoGP team struggle

Martin informed Aprilia of his intention to trigger the Spaniard’s exit clause last Friday whilst at the French GP. It would not be a great weekend for the Noale outfit, either, as LCR Honda pilot Johann Zarco became the first French rider to win their home Grand Prix for 71 years.

Trackhouse ace Raul Fernandez was the top Aprilia rider, but he finished the French GP in P7 and a massive 70.302s behind Zarco. Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori was also the factory team’s top bike, as Martin’s stand-in replacement came home P9 and 85.793s off the lead.

It all leaves Aprilia just 10th in the teams’ championship on just 46 points. Trackhouse rookie Ai Ogura is also the highest-placed pilot on the RS-GP25 in the riders’ championship in P10 with 43 points. Marco Bezzecchi is the highest-placed factory Aprilia rider in P12 on only 38.

So, despite only contesting one round so far this term, Martin has seen enough to desire yet another change of scenery and to signal his intent to leave Aprilia at the end of 2025. But his choice has sparked Aprilia to study what they can do to avoid his exit given his lack of races.