Marco Bezzecchi
Aprilia are faced with the prospect of losing star rider Jorge Martin a year before his contract is due to expire.
Optimism was high at the Noale manufacturer as they went into 2025, having signed the Spaniard and Marco Bezzecchi to two-year factory contracts. However, that hope has been shattered by the news that Martin wants to leave Aprilia at the end of the season.
The defending MotoGP champion missed pre-season and the opening three races through injury, before suffering a serious crash on his return in Qatar. Watching on during his recovery, he is unsatisfied with Aprilia’s bike as Martin has activated an exit clause in his contract.
The situation is highly complex and is set to end up in court as the two parties seem unable to reach an agreement. Aprilia say the exit clause is invalid due to Martin’s injuries, but the Spaniard is doubling down on his decision to leave.
Martin’s departure would be a big blow for Aprilia and their long-term project. They could suffer another damaging hit amid Liberty Media’s takeover of MotoGP.
Aprilia chief Massimo Rivola has been linked with a CEO role at Liberty Media as MotoGP takeover receives green light
Officially confirmed on Monday, Liberty’s takeover of MotoGP and World Superbikes received approval from the European Union’s commission. The deal is set to be finalised no later than July 3.
MotoGP will now be under the same ownership as Formula 1, with Liberty having plotted a deal to take over from Dorna in April last year. Dan Rossomondo admitted Liberty’s timeline was ‘very ambitious’, as they had planned to get the deal done before the 2025 season.
The American media company are now clear to purchase an 84% stake from current owners Bridgepoint Group and Carlos Ezpeleta and his family. The Spaniard is set to get involved in Aprilia’s ongoing dispute as Ezpeleta has ‘no intention’ of letting Martin break his contract.
With the takeover approved, many are now wondering what the new owners’ next steps will be and who will join the board as they hope to skyrocket MotoGP’s global market.
In a report from The Race, ‘multiple names’ have been linked with Ezpeleta’s role of CEO, among those being Aprilia sports director Massimo Rivola.
This is something Liberty have tried in F1 with former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali, who has helped in the ‘transformation’ of the sport as CEO. It would be no surprise if the American media company were to ‘replicate’ that method in MotoGP, with Rivola one of the names being backed to take the role.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend
What are Liberty Media set to bring as MotoGP’s owners?
Given their monumental success with Formula 1, many in the MotoGP paddock will hope that Liberty can have the same impact. Pit Beirer wants Liberty to turn MotoGP into a ‘big show’ and expand the sport’s audience.
A key factor in F1’s astronomical rise in popularity was the introduction of Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive. It would not be surprising to see Liberty replicate something similar in MotoGP.
But there are certain aspects of F1 that fans do not want to see in the premier class. MotoGP fans have scolded the idea of street circuits – which are becoming more common in F1 – due to the incredible danger of racing on them with bikes.
Marc Marquez proved that Liberty need to change Sprints as MotoGP owners, after he claimed his ninth win on a Saturday in 2025 at Mugello. No non-Ducati rider has finished on the podium in Sprint races this year- they will struggle to attract new fans if such dominance continues.
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