Marco Bezzecchi
A MotoGP bombshell was dropped this week when it was widely reported that Jorge Martin might leave Aprilia at the end of the 2025 season.
It’s especially shocking because the 27-year-old is yet to complete a Grand Prix for Aprilia, having been sidelined for months by three separate injuries.
Now, Martin is on the lookout for an opportunity elsewhere, but his options on the grid are limited, given his poor relationship with some manufacturers.
The reigning MotoGP champion looks set to exercise a performance clause, which means he can leave if he isn’t among the championship contenders after round six, which sounds insane given his situation.
Martin is ‘afraid’ of Aprilia and fears that their bike isn’t what they promised it would be last summer when they agreed a two-year deal.
He isn’t the only rider in trouble, with KTM Tech3 rider Enea Bastianini glad to leave if the opportunity arises.
Jorge Martin offered ‘at least double’ his salary to ride for Honda instead of Aprilia in 2026
Martin’s ties with KTM are severed and his exit from Ducati wasn’t the cleanest of situations last year either, after being denied a factory ride.
It leaves him with few options. Only one Yamaha seat may be available, but not before 2027 under Alex Rins’ current terms and the satellite Pramac team may still be upset that the Spaniard left them last year.
That leaves Honda, who have one seat available for 2026 due to Luca Marini’s expiring contract, but there’s one thing standing in the way of any deal.
The Japanese manufacturer are known for refusing to enter serious talks until a rider is completely available. In other words, first, Martin must officially negotiate an exit.
Only then will Honda get serious. MowMag reports that Honda are prepared to offer Martin double the money he is on now to move for 2026. It would be hard to turn down.
When might an official announcement about Jorge Martin’s 2026 MotoGP decision be made?
It may be a while before any official announcements are made because Martin is prepared to give Aprilia six races to prove that their bike can be as good as intended.
However, upon his return, he’s going to need time to get back up to speed and that alone may take more than six races. It doesn’t feel like a fair chance for the Italian manufacturer.
With the potential for extra money on the table from Honda, it’s hard to see Martin rejecting a move to a rival manufacturer who have been trending in the right direction for a while.
It’s a shame to see Johann Zarco forgotten in all of this, having performed magnificently just days ago at the Grand Prix of France.
But motorsport moves quickly, and by the end of summer, we should know where the future lies for the current reigning champion.
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