Aprilia’s ‘priorities have changed’ ahead of Jorge Martin’s injury return with clear message shared among the team

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Jorge Martin has ramped up his return from injury after three months on the sidelines with a day of testing at Misano with Aprilia’s RS-GP 2025 MotoGP bike on Wednesday.

The Spaniard had not ridden the Noale outfit’s challenger since the Qatar Grand Prix back in April. Martin crashed out of the race at Lusail and was hit by Fabio Di Giannantonio of VR46, which resulted in the 27-year-old suffering a hemopneumothorax and even breaking 11 ribs.

In his absence, the reigning champion has dominated the MotoGP rider market after Martin confirmed he has triggered an exit clause in his Aprilia contract. While multiple injuries have held him to competing in just one round so far, he had to decide after the French Grand Prix.

Martin has agreed to a three-year contract with Honda, as well, as he strives to jump ship to the Japanese manufacturer halfway through the two-year contract the Madrid native signed to join Aprilia. Martin will also not race with the RS-GP25 until at least the Czech Grand Prix.

Aprilia’s ‘priorities have changed’ with Marco Bezzecchi replacing Jorge Martin as their leader

Aprilia welcomed Martin to Noale ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season as they pursued a new captain after his close friend Aleix Espargaro retired from racing and took up a test rider role at Honda. Marco Bezzecchi also left VR46 for Aprilia to replace Maverick Vinales this season.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Marco Bezzecchi from net worth to race number

But while Martin took the captaincy from Espargaro, AS now reports that Aprilia’s ‘priorities have changed’ with the mechanics in their garage hailing Bezzecchi as their ‘leader’. Aprilia’s engineers have rallied around the Italian after seeing him steer the ship in Martin’s absence.

Bezzecchi has taken up the helm in Noale after repeatedly demanding that Aprilia find ways to improve their RS-GP25 and what he can achieve on it during qualifying sessions. His pleas are being answered, with Aprilia improving the RS-GP25’s rear stability with a new rear tyre.

Jorge Martin faces a challenge to get Aprilia’s mechanics back on his side while trying to leave

Martin will now hope he can capitalise on the progress that Bezzecchi has encouraged from Aprilia when the Spaniard returns to racing on the RS-GP25, possibly at Brno on July 18-20. Yet Martin will seemingly not return to the garage as Aprilia’s No1 after three months away.

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

Instead, Bezzecchi has seized on Martin’s absence and attempts to leave Aprilia to build the team around the 26-year-old. It could also prove hard for Martin to regain the status he got upon joining Aprilia amid the Spaniard’s public bid to get out of his contract and join Honda.

Even Aprilia insiders admit that Martin’s relationship with the team is tougher on his return from injury than when he last rode on the RS-GP25 in Qatar. He is also returning from injury after seeing Bezzecchi win the British Grand Prix and was second in the Dutch GP at Assen.