Marco Bezzecchi
The Jorge Martin saga took another turn at the Dutch Grand Prix after his agent began to talk in the media about the situation.
Currently, the outlook is clear. Aprilia want him to be their rider in 2026, but he wants to leave before then.
Martin hasn’t even completed a race for them yet, but it appears that his mind is set on what he wants for the future. He has lost faith in their project somewhere.
It has been a major spanner in the MotoGP rider market, and it isn’t likely that a solution will arrive anytime soon.
Martin’s camp are already discussing drastic actions, which could see Aprilia receive a compensation package for losing the reigning champion.
However, Aprilia have said something ‘highly unusual’ about Martin, with Mat Oxley believing that it’s strange for a rider not to be fit so long after an accident. He expected that the Spaniard would have returned from his Qatar Grand Prix shunt by now.
Jorge Lorenzo tells Aprilia to create a ‘comfortable’ environment for Jorge Martin to stay for 2026
Martin proved the ‘tension’ with Aprilia is ‘very high’ by not attending any of the last few MotoGP races, which he could have done, with Italy and Holland being fairly close to home.
Currently, he’s gearing up for a test that will help him assess whether or not he is ready to return to racing action again.
He has been ruled out of next weekend’s German Grand Prix, but he could return the following week in Brno if he makes enough progress.
In the long term, MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo believes that Aprilia must create a more ‘comfortable’ environment for the Spaniard to succeed in.
“Also, [Aprilia] runs the risk of staying with a rider who is not comfortable in the team. He’ll do well, so the next contract is good,” he told the DURALAVITA podcast.
“The atmosphere won’t be comfortable. If a rider has done a race, but after everything that has happened, it’s still the same [what has gone on in the background]. Then with time it can be sweetened again.”
READ MORE: Ducati chief says Aprilia made a ‘mistake’ when they announced Jorge Martin signing in 2024
Aprilia are ‘sure’ about what a judge would say to Jorge Martin about contract clause
Unfortunately, MotoGP doesn’t quite have the same provisions in place as its four-wheeled counterpart, Formula 1.
They have something called the CRB, or Contract Recognition Board, set up by the FIA to resolve any legal drama quickly.
It’s likely that the Martin situation would have ended far quicker if there was a similar process in place, but instead, we’re left with a rather long and messy ordeal.
Aprilia are ‘sure’ what a judge would say to Martin and believe that the ‘clause’ in his deal is worthless, because he hasn’t had much of a chance to ride their bike.
The clause is something the 27-year-old hopes will be upheld, so he can exit his contract and pursue an opening with one of their rivals for 2026.
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