Why Max Biaggi sees himself in Jorge Martin after he was forced to stay at Aprilia for 2026

Add as preferred source on Google

It looks like the saga between Jorge Martin and Aprilia Racing has come to an end following the Spaniard’s decision to remain at the team through to the end of the 2026 season.

Martin shocked the MotoGP paddock in May when he announced that he wished to leave Aprilia at the end of 2025. Fans slammed Martin’s decision at the time, citing a growth in the Spaniard’s ego after winning the 2024 MotoGP championship as a reason for him wanting out.

The Spaniard’s decision to remain at Aprilia came after a successful test at Misano with the team following a long stint on the sidelines due to injuries sustained at the Qatar Grand Prix earlier in the season.

Max Biaggi noted a change in Martin’s demeanour at the test, stating that he saw a ‘smiling, relaxed Martin’ and hoped he would change his mind on leaving.

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

Max Biaggi sees part of himself in Jorge Martin after reflecting on his relationship with Aprilia in the past

Speaking to AS, the six-time motorcycle world champion reflected on a time when he also wasn’t happy with his time at Aprilia but managed to fall ‘in love again’ with the team after a brief bout of unhappiness.

When asked if it is possible for Martin to reconcile with Aprilia after the public spat, Biaggi replied, “Yes, you can. It’s happened to me in the past, specifically with Aprilia.

“In ’92, I made my World Championship debut with Aprilia, and the following year I moved to Erv Kanemoto’s Honda team, with Rothmans, and then I returned to Aprilia and won a lot for many years with them.

“I was in love with Aprilia in ’92, fell out of love, and fell in love again in ’94. Victories help you overcome these separations. Winning is the key to not breaking up again.”

READ MORE: Everything to know about Aprilia from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy

Max Biaggi has seen a different Jorge Martin since his return to MotoGP following the contract dispute

Martin completed his first MotoGP weekend since the crash in Qatar, which left him with 11 broken ribs and a punctured lung. He finished 11th in the Sprint and seventh in Sunday’s Czech Republic Grand Prix, getting his first points of the 2025 season as well as much-needed race experience with the RS-GP25.

Biaggi noted Martin’s new attitude with the team, stating that his versatility will help him catch up to his rivals who have half a season under their belt.

“After everything that’s happened, after the controversy over whether he’ll leave or not, he’s back, and there’s a very good team atmosphere around him,” Biaggi said. “I see him as positive and motivated, although he’s still at 70 or 80%.

“He needs to finish the races and get into a rhythm to catch up with the others. He still has 6,000 kilometres of experience left compared to the other riders, but he’s a rider who will adapt quickly and will do well in the next race.”

Martin’s next chance of hitting the race track will be at the Grand Prix of Austria, a track where he won at in Moto2 but is yet to register a win at in MotoGP. The Spaniard came close in his 2024 title-winning year, losing out to Pecco Bagnaia by just over three seconds.