How Aprilia have responded to claims that Jorge Martin wants to leave for ‘economic reasons’

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Jorge Martin rejected the chance to stay at Ducati when Marc Marquez won the battle for a 2025 factory seat. He could have continued as a satellite rider on up-to-date machinery.

Martin won the world championship for Pramac, becoming the first rider to triumph with an independent team in the MotoGP era. Perhaps he could have done so again.

But the Spaniard understood this was a rare feat, and felt he needed to be in a flagship team to add to his tally. And as Marquez himself acknowledged, every MotoGP rider wants the prestige of a factory seat.

Soon after joining, Martin said he could win the title at Aprilia in 2026. But after just one appearance in an injury-ravaged start to the year, he seems to have changed his mind.

The 27-year-old has triggered an exit clause in his contract that allows him to walk away at the end of the year. Martin could now join Honda, provided he can make a clean break from the Noale outfit.

Aprilia adamant it’s not about the money for Jorge Martin

According to a recent report, Honda have offered Martin double his Aprilia salary. His camp held initial talks with Alberto Puig’s team in the Le Mans paddock.

Martin signed for £3.5m at Aprilia, but they can’t match the wealth of Honda, the most successful team on the MotoGP grid. After finishing bottom of last year’s standings, the Japanese manufacturer returned to winning ways through LCR’s Johann Zarco in Japan last time out.

However, Aprilia are adamant that Martin isn’t trying to leave for ‘economic reasons’, as reported by journalist Oriol Puigdemont on the ‘Por Orejas’ podcast.

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

“I said he’d collected the first payment from Aprilia,” German Garcia Casanova said. “Of course, those words haven’t sat well with Aprilia.

“They think I said he hasn’t been paid, and that’s not true. Martin collected the first part of his contract, and he hasn’t collected the second. They told me that maybe the date for collecting that second payment hasn’t arrived yet.

Puigdemont added: “They assure us that it’s not, in any case, driven by economic reasons.”

Aprilia could spring a big surprise by signing World Superbikes rider to replace Jorge Martin

Whatever his motivation, Aprilia believe Martin’s exit clause is invalid. The agreement was that he could go if he was below a certain position in the championship after Le Mans.

And while he’s currently in 26th and last place, the team understandably feel that his absences void the provision. The dispute could end up in the courts.

But even if the team were to prevail in a legal battle, it’s hard to see how the relationship can be repaired. It’s been suggested that Martin may never ride for Aprilia again.

Massimo Rivola would be foolish not to scout out potential replacements. The latest rumour is that Aprilia may be interested in Nicolo Bulega, the World Superbikes leader who’s currently contracted to Ducati but may want to switch disciplines.