Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin has confirmed his intention to leave Aprilia after the 2025 season via the exit clause in his contract, even if the Noale factory are insistent the Spaniard will stay.
The 27-year-old finally broke his silence on Thursday after weeks of speculation, with Martin confirming he wants to leave Aprilia and more importantly the existence of the exit clause in his contract through 2026. Martin insists he only signed his two-year deal as it was included.
Aprilia have sought to play down any talk that Martin could leave the Italian factory after the 2025 MotoGP season since speculation started that the Spaniard activated the exit clause at Le Mans. Martin needed to be in the title mix after the French Grand Prix for it to be invalid.
But the Madrid native has not yet scored a point since joining Aprilia from Pramac this term due to Martin missing six of the first seven rounds due to injuries. So, Aprilia do not believe Martin’s exit clause is valid, with him also unlikely to return again before July at the earliest.
Aprilia could sign Moto2 star Jake Dixon or KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini to replace Jorge Martin
A chance to join Aprilia in the 2026 MotoGP season, if Martin frees himself, would appeal to an array of riders from the world championship paddock. According to Motosprint, that also now includes Jake Dixon, who would ‘gladly’ jump at the chance to replace Martin at Aprilia.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend
Marc VDS rider Dixon is currently third in the 2025 Moto2 standings with 82 points from the first seven rounds. He currently trails Intact GP star Manuel Gonzalez (111) and Fantic’s Aron Canet (108), having already scored two Grand Prix wins this term in Argentina and America.
But Dixon’s biggest hurdle to securing his graduation from Moto2 to MotoGP is KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini is even on Aprilia’s radar to replace Martin. Like the Spaniard, the Italian has his eyes set on leaving his team after a few races as he ‘can’t take it anymore’ at KTM Tech3.
What may help Dixon’s chances of replacing Martin and becoming a premier class rider next year is Aprilia may have to fight Pramac to sign Bastianini. The satellite Yamaha team admire the 27-year-old, who has won seven Grands Prix and sealed 18 podiums to date in MotoGP.
Neil Hodgson thinks Jake Dixon is a ‘MotoGP rider all over’
Joining Aprilia to replace Martin may be Dixon’s last chance to step up to MotoGP, given the Marc VDS Moto2 rider is 29. He will also turn 30 next January before his potential debut for the Noale crew. Yet the Briton has shown his ability to not only win but dominate in Moto2.
Dixon flew to the top of the 2025 Moto2 standings after he won the Americas Grand Prix in March. The Dover, England native overcame the mixed conditions at a wet and dry Circuit of the Americas to win from pole position and back up his win two weeks earlier in Argentina.
The manner of Dixon’s win at COTA astounded Sylvain Guintoli, who told TNT Sports he was ‘supreme’ in the ‘trickiest conditions ever’. Neil Hodgson also praised Dixon after his win in the Moto2 Americas GP, but fears the Briton’s age could rule him out of a move to MotoGP.
“He was a second and a half [per lap] quicker than everybody at certain points in the race,” Hodgson said. “It was incredible… I just wish he was 24 years old.
“I’m gutted he’s 29 because we know this paddock is so ageist. I’m saying that because that form, the last two performances, the way he conducts himself, he’s a MotoGP rider all over.”
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