Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin may be about to switch MotoGP teams for the second time in 12 months after it was revealed that he could activate a performance clause in his Aprilia contract.
The reigning champion hasn’t even seen the flag in a Grand Prix for Aprilia yet, and has his sights set on leaving for 2026.
Martin’s biggest problem is how many options he might have left. Maybe he’s making a statement to Honda before they make a call on their vacant factory seat for next season?
Reportedly, Martin is willing to give Aprilia six races after his own return from injury to prove themselves to him before deciding on his MotoGP future.
The shock news has been met with backlash, as MotoGP fans slammed Martin’s ‘ego’ and criticised him for making a premature decision.
Honda’s stance on signing Martin is clear, after admitting that they don’t want to talk about any potential deal until his ties with Aprilia are completely cut.
KTM may still hold a ‘considerable grudge’ over Jorge Martin for 2020 Moto2 exit
During the 2020 Moto2 season, Martin had ties with KTM and was in line for a promotion to MotoGP with them the following year.
Reportedly, he had a similar contract clause about their performance, which allowed him to leave if the team didn’t have one bike in the top 10 of the riders’ standings.
The Spaniard worked around it, using the fact that the season hadn’t started due to Covid to leave and get an opportunity on a Ducati bike, which Valentin Khorounzhiy reports left a scar.
“Let’s explain it in full as far as we know it and as far as it has been reported,” he said. “One of the KTM bikes in MotoGP needed to be in the top 10 of the MotoGP standings for that clause not to be activated.
“But, at the moment where the cut-off time was, there were no MotoGP standings because Covid had suspended the season.
“So, no racing had taken place and I think KTM still holds a considerable grudge against Jorge Martin’s camp for using those circumstances as they say it, to extricate themselves from the KTM MotoGP deal in favour of a Ducati future.”
Which MotoGP teams are left that would entertain Jorge Martin?
Martin’s relations with some teams and manufacturers aren’t too strong, which inevitably means that his options are narrowed for 2026 if he decides to move.
KTM aren’t likely to entertain him, nor are Ducati after the way he forced an exit from them last year. Ditching Aprilia means he must be confident in a seat at Honda or Yamaha.
However, with Pramac unlikely to be the Yamaha option, the only seat he could poach becomes Alex Rins’ at the factory team, and he has a contract until the end of 2026.
The last logical and possible ride becomes the factory Honda gig, currently held by Luca Marini until the end of 2025.
There are multiple names linked with the team, including the likes of Toprak Razgatlioglu, Pedro Acosta and Johann Zarco, so competition is stiff.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
