Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Martin took the cover off Aprilia’s new bike for the 2026 MotoGP season at their team launch event in Milan, but he starts the year with an uncertain long-term future.
The 27-year-old starts the new season as one of the many riders on the grid whose contract is set to expire at the end of the year. Martin joined Aprilia at the start of 2025 with an initial two-year deal, but a number of injury problems throughout the term derailed his campaign.
Martin only started seven of the eight Grands Prix he entered last season after fracturing his right hand, left foot and left hand, breaking 11 ribs along with his collarbone and suffering a hemopneumothorax. Now, 2024 champion Martin enters 2026 needing to earn a new deal.
Thoughts on Aprilia’s 2026 design?
Jorge Martin shelves talk about his Aprilia future to focus on the here and now
CEO Massimo Rivola has stated that Aprilia are open to giving Martin a new contract to help lead them into MotoGP’s 2027 regulations. But rival brands are also thought to be watching the situation, with reports emerging that Yamaha could rival Honda to sign Martin for 2027.
READ MORE: The worst MotoGP title defences in history, as Jorge Martin sets a new record
The MotoGP rider market is expected to pick up speed quickly this year, as only three of the 22 pilots currently have contracts for 2027. But Martin thinks it is “important” to focus now on what Aprilia can achieve during 2026, as there will be plenty of time to discuss his future.
Martin told the MotoGP YouTube channel after unveiling Aprilia’s 2026 bike this Thursday: “For sure, Aprilia are always going to do an amazing job now and in the future. But what I can say is that today is the team presentation.
“So, I think it is important to be really excited for this year, for the present, and there will be a lot of time to speak about the future.”
Jorge Martin may have to wait for rival riders to secure new contracts first
Finish the sentence: Aprilia will win ___ Grands Prix in 2026
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Martin’s injury woes during his first season for Aprilia in 2025 has likely pushed the Spaniard down the pecking order to secure contracts for 2027 and beyond. Instead, Ducati rider Marc Marquez, KTM star Pedro Acosta and Fabio Quartararo of Yamaha might dictate the market.
The only riders currently with contracts for 2027 are Toprak Razgatlioglu of Pramac and the LCR line-up of Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira. So, it is expected that the constructors will wait to see who Marquez above all decides to race for in 2027 before signing an alternative.
Aprilia are also looking at potentially refreshing their rider line-up in 2027, which could leave Martin on the market. It is now said that Aprilia could rival Pramac and Yamaha to sign Enea Bastianini, who is likewise out of contract with KTM Tech3 at the end of the 2026 campaign.
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