Some Honda staff are having second thoughts about Jorge Martin after what they saw from Marc Marquez

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Jorge Martin seemed to activate his Aprilia exit clause with Honda in mind. The Japanese manufacturer have been open about their interest.

When Martin left the Ducati stable last year, he made it clear that he wanted to ride for a factory team. Of Aprilia’s rivals, Honda are the only team with such an opening for 2026.

A return to Borgo Panigale is out of the question, partly because they, like Yamaha and KTM, have two riders under contract. At Honda, Luca Marini is approaching the end of his deal.

Martin has also seen an improvement from the most successful team on the grid this season. Johann Zarco won the French GP last month and followed it up with a runner-up finish at Silverstone.

Honda are currently Ducati’s nearest challengers in the constructors’, albeit just four points ahead of KTM. Even though Zarco has scored all of their points, LCR are sixth in the teams’ standings.

Honda think Jorge Martin could generate too much pressure – just like Marc Marquez

According to a report from MOW on Thursday, ‘there are those’ within Honda who are having some second thoughts about Marquez. The prospect of signing the 2024 world champion is clearly exciting, but it also brings problems.

Some Honda staff see the merits of ‘leaving things as they are’. The work of their current line-up will ‘pay off’ in the long run, without bringing short-term pressure to ‘win right away’.

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

When Marc Marquez was riding for the Asaka-based team, he ‘never’ had any patience. The ‘wounds’ of his 2023 exit still burn.

Zarco and Joan Mir both have contracts for 2026. And team manager Alberto Puig values the contributions of Marini, who’s currently out injured.

Honda know what they have to do to get Jorge Martin out of his Aprilia deal

MotoGP legend Jorge Lorenzo has heard that Martin only wanted to sign a one-year deal at Aprilia, but Massimo Rivola and co. demanded a longer commitment. That has greatly complicated Honda’s pursuit.

There is a lingering possibility of a courtroom battle between Martin and his team. They feel that his release clause – dependent on his championship position – is invalid because he’s missed all but one race through injury.

Martin may have to pay Aprilia compensation if he wants to become a free agent. There’s a possibility that Honda could fund this arrangement.

The financial commitment will only feed the reservations of the aforementioned HRC insiders. If they walk away from a deal, which still doesn’t seem likely at the moment, then Martin could be left in a very awkward position indeed.