Aprilia’s chance to replace Jorge Martin with £6m-a-year rider has now appeared ‘in recent days’

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Jorge Martin is determined to leave Aprilia at the end of the 2025 MotoGP season to likely join Honda, but the Italian factory could now sign a huge name to replace him.

The Noale crew remain keen to retain Martin, having only signed the 27-year-old to become their new team leader this term. But his hopes for the future are elsewhere, and Martin has confirmed he has triggered an exit clause to leave Aprilia halfway through his two-year deal.

Martin only agreed to leave Pramac for Aprilia prior to becoming the 2024 riders’ champion after they agreed to add a performance-based release clause to his terms. And while Aprilia do not believe Martin’s exit clause is valid due to his injuries, he plans to make full use of it.

The Spaniard has only raced in one round of the 2025 MotoGP season so far after complex fractures in his left hand in a pre-season Supermoto crash before sustaining 11 broken ribs and a hemopneumothorax on his return in Qatar, which have also held Martin to no points.

Francesco Bagnaia could now replace Jorge Martin at Aprilia as his Ducati future is in doubt

Martin has reached an agreement to join Honda, as well, as the Japanese brand waits to get official confirmation that the Madrid native can leave Aprilia. They could even enjoy a boost thanks to Ducati as it is no longer certain that Francesco Bagnaia will stay in Borgo Panigale.

That is according to Gazzetta dello Sport, which reports that this week’s Aragon Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on June 22 ‘could be decisive’ for Bagnaia’s future with Ducati. Anything but a win in either race may see them terminate his contract through 2026.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number

Bagnaia failing to add to his sole win to date this year, taken when Marc Marquez crashed in the lead of the Americas Grand Prix, would leave it ‘only a matter of time’ before Ducati and the 28-year-old split. But the two-time MotoGP champion will not be short of teams to join.

Yamaha view Bagnaia as their forbidden dream, as the Italian does not want to leave Ducati before his €7m-a-year (£6m-a-year) contract expires. The Iwata outfit would love Bagnaia to join Fabio Quartararo in their works line-up alongside Toprak Razgatlioglu’s move to Pramac.

VR46 could also rival Yamaha to sign Bagnaia due to his ties to Valentino Rossi via his Riders Academy. Yet the option of the Turin native replacing Martin at Aprilia has also materialised ‘in recent days’, with Bagnaia becoming the Noale factory’s new lead rider as early as 2026.

It is even not entirely unlikely that Honda might rival Aprilia for Bagnaia and partner Martin with the man he beat to lift the 2024 title. HRC technical director Romano Albesiano would back Bagnaia’s arrival at Honda, with Luca Marini and Joan Mir both now firmly on notice.

Aprilia will have the easiest path to sign Francesco Bagnaia ahead of Yamaha and Honda

Martin’s decision to leave Aprilia stunned the Noale squad when he told them at Le Mans of the Spaniard’s desire to leave, having had to be a title contender following the French Grand Prix to nullify the exit clause. Yet Bagnaia replacing Martin could certainly lift Aprilia’s mood.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Aprilia from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy

Aprilia would also have the easiest path to sign Bagnaia if he leaves Ducati over their factory rivals, Yamaha and Honda. Martin leaving for Honda would create a vacancy without having to release a rider(s), whereas Yamaha and Honda have Alex Rins and Mir locked in for 2026.

VR46 also have an opening for 2026 with Franco Morbidelli only tied down for this season at Rossi’s team. Honda want to demote Mir to LCR, though, and Yamaha could always try to get Bagnaia to join Razgatlioglu, as Miguel Oliveira’s deal for Pramac has a performance clause.