Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin is set to make his return from injury after 95 days on the sidelines at the 2025 Czech Grand Prix, but his bid to leave Aprilia and U-turn remain in the spotlight.
The 27-year-old has not featured in an official MotoGP session since the Spaniard crashed on April 14 during the Qatar Grand Prix. But Martin is set to get back aboard his Aprilia RS-GP25 at Brno on Friday after the success of a recent private test at Misano last Wednesday.
Martin’s private test aboard Aprilia’s 2025 MotoGP bike at Misano showed he has recovered from the hemopneumothorax and 11 broken ribs the reigning riders’ champion sustained in Qatar. His time out of action even ensured Aprilia do not believe Martin’s exit clause is valid.
His clause stipulated that Martin could leave the Noale factory if he was not a title contender after the French Grand Prix. Martin confirmed his bid to leave Aprilia via the exit clause in his contract, too, but him missing five of the six relevant events gave the Italian team the power.
Honda withdrew a three-year contract offer before Jorge Martin agreed to stay at Aprilia
Despite Aprilia’s position, Martin agreed to a three-year contract with Honda as he sought to jump onto the RC213V in 2026 after quickly losing faith in the RS-GP. But Honda refused to formalise the move all the while Aprilia insisted that Martin would honour his two-year deal.
And motorsport.com now reports that Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta firmly coming out at the Dutch Grand Prix in support of Aprilia’s stance proved to be the final nail that Honda needed to withdraw their offer to Martin, and force him to surrender to staying at the Noale factory.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend
Ezpeleta’s position convinced Honda that it would not be worth their time to continue trying to sign Martin for the 2026 MotoGP season. The Japanese squad backing away thus left him without any obvious landing spots, so Martin resigned himself to another season at Aprilia.
Martin is now expected to explain his U-turn this Thursday ahead of making his return from injury in the first Czech GP since the 2020 campaign. But Martin could still strive to secure a switch from Aprilia to Honda in 2027 when MotoGP introduces 850cc bikes and Pirelli tyres.
Jorge Martin and Honda could still look to finally unite in the 2027 MotoGP season
Honda have long wanted to have Martin ride the RC213V, but Aprilia gaining the support of Dorna CEO Ezpeleta was seemingly enough to persuade them to back away at least for now. So, Honda are in talks with Luca Marini over a new contract or could promote Johann Zarco.
Marini might only receive a reprieve with his contract set to expire at the end of this season, though. Honda spent weeks trying to sign Martin before he agreed to join Aprilia and clearly still want him to join the Japanese factory, but they will have to wait until at least 2027 now.
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola warned Honda against chasing Martin at the 2025 French GP, as well, after the Spanish rider informed the Noale squad of his intention to use the exit clause in his terms. But even Rivola’s direct warning did not put Honda off making Martin an offer.
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