Marco Bezzecchi
Aprilia finally saw Jorge Martin get back on a track riding the RS-GP25 on Wednesday at Misano, but his return from injury is also being played out amid a bid to join Honda.
Defending riders’ champion Martin only joined Aprilia ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season to replace Aleix Espargaro after missing out on a works Ducati seat to Marc Marquez. But it did not take the Spaniard long to seek another home, despite contesting just one round to date.
Aprilia have only seen Martin feature at the Qatar Grand Prix so far, having fractured his left hand in pre-season and then he suffered 11 broken ribs and a hemopneumothorax in Lusail on his debut for the Noale factory. Martin is not set to race again until the Czech Grand Prix.
But the 27-year-old used his time out of action to judge the RS-GP25 at the hands of Marco Bezzecchi in the opening rounds. And Martin has confirmed he has triggered the exit clause in his Aprilia contract, having had to decide by the French Grand Prix to stay for 2026 or not.
Loris Capirossi thinks Aprilia target Enea Bastianini’s talent is ‘beyond question’
Honda have agreed to a three-year contract with Martin in case Aprilia yield on their stance that the Spaniard must honour his deal with the Italian team, as well. The Noale factory are determined to keep the rider, so Aprilia refuse to negotiate compensation to release Martin.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Enea Bastianini from net worth to career stats
Still, replacement riders are being considered from far and wide, with Aprilia loath to be left in the cold if Martin were to leave. The Italian team admire KTM Tech 3 star Enea Bastianini, but he is not their only option with Aprilia fans of Yamaha and Honda target Diogo Moreira.
Were Aprilia to pursue Bastianini to replace Martin, though, they would be targeting a rider whom Loris Capirossi has now told MOW is certainly capable of fighting for a MotoGP title. Capirossi is a huge fan of the Tech3 rider, who has a factory contract for KTM through 2026.
Capirossi said: “Stay calm and work, he’ll get there. Enea’s talent is beyond question, and he’s proven himself to be a rider capable of winning and challenging for the MotoGP title.
“He’s just switched bikes, moving from a Ducati, and it’s probably only a matter of time before KTM will help him.”
Enea Bastianini wants to leave KTM Tech3 after just one season like Jorge Martin at Aprilia
Jorge Lorenzo believes Bastianini is ‘pretty close’ to fighting for a MotoGP title, as well, and would almost ‘guarantee’ Aprilia a fast rider they can replace Martin with if their RS-GP is a competitive package next year. He came third in the 2022 standings in just his second term.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend
Like Martin at Aprilia, Bastianini wants to leave KTM Tech3 after just one season, as well, as the Italian has struggled to adapt to the RC16 since joining from the works Ducati team this year. It is even thought that Bastianini is ready to tear up his factory KTM contract for 2026.
Replacing Martin with Bastianini would give Aprilia a rider with seven career MotoGP Grand Prix wins, 18 podiums and two pole positions from 80 starts so far. He also won the Moto2 title in 2020 by only nine points ahead of Luca Marini and Sam Lowes in joint second place.
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