Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin is edging closer to a return to MotoGP after a turbulent start to the 2025 season on and off the track.
The defending champion missed pre-season and the first three races due to hand and foot fractures in a crash at Sepang back in January. During his recovery, the Aprilia rider broke his scaphoid in a testing accident.
He returned to MotoGP in Qatar, but Martin suffered a horrible crash with Fabio Di Giannantonio as he was struck by the VR46 rider after falling from his RS-GP25. Breaking 11 ribs and suffering a pneumothorax, the Spaniard has been on the sidelines ever since.
The 27-year-old has been taking his time with his recovery. Martin was present at the Aprilia All Stars event at Misano, marking the first time he rode a bike since the crash at Qatar.
But he has also been taking that time away from the grid to reflect on his future, as Martin is pushing for a way out of Aprilia after activating an exit clause. After his latest outing in Barcelona, fans are all saying the same thing.
Aprilia fans beg Jorge Martin to stay as he edges closer to MotoGP return with Barcelona test
Martin completed close to 280km on the Aprilia RSV4 in the scorching heat at the Barcelona circuit. Posting on Instagram after the test, the Spaniard wrote: “Mai paura. Back on the bike after three months.”
It did not take long for Aprilia fans to flood his comments to tell him to stay with the team. Massimo Rivola has been sending a clear message to Martin that the bike is competitive, with Marco Bezzecchi winning at Silverstone and finishing second at Assen.
“Now you like Aprilia again???” wondered one fan, while another said: “Give them a chance!” Martin is not even classified in the 2025 championship having not completed a full race for the Noale outfit.
One user wrote: “Back with Aprilia please Martin, that bike, it’s amazing.” Another commented: “Don’t change. Aprilia please. Martinator return.”
“Stay with Aprilia Jorge! You can be a world champion again on this bike!!” stated one fan. Rivola believed Martin could have been champion in 2025 had he been fit throughout the season.
Finally, one fan said: “Jorge, Aprilia is an amazing bike, they just need to have a world champion rider. Now maybe it is developing, but when you bail out of Aprilia, people see you as a coward, but when you win world champion with this bike, you will be a legend and money will come to you.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend
Tension between Jorge Martin and Aprilia is incredibly high amid their contract dispute
Aprilia’s official account also commented on Martin’s post, writing to him: ‘Welcome back.’ Considering the situation the two parties find themselves in, that can easily be seen as an awkward comment.
Tension is still high between Martin and Aprilia as they try to work on a compromise and resolve their contract dispute. The Spaniard wants out, but the team are desperate to keep him on board and see out his contract.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta is also intervening, as he does not want to see Martin break his contract. Aprilia are refusing to discuss a compensation fee with the 27-year-old, with the matter set to head to court.
Martin has been ruled out of the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring next weekend, as he eyes a return at Brno. If he cannot compete there, he will have to wait until Austria in August to make his comeback.
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