Marco Bezzecchi
Suzi Perry is now hearing that Jorge Martin may not have actually signed a contract to join Yamaha in 2027, which could even see Aprilia retain the 2024 MotoGP champion.
It has been an open secret in the paddock since before the 2026 season started that Martin is believed to be leaving Aprilia for Yamaha next year. Yamaha moved quickly to launch talks with the 28-year-old in January after it emerged that Fabio Quartararo will be joining Honda.
Quartararo lost faith with Yamaha before he had even seen just how uncompetitive their V4 engine would prove to be in race conditions this year, so he accepted Honda’s offer to move in 2027. Yamaha’s speed to start talks with Martin was then key to his decision to join them.
Aprilia are also said to have already agreed a deal with Francesco Bagnaia to replace Martin, as the two-time champion is widely expected to lose his ride for Ducati to Pedro Acosta. It is said that Bagnaia has agreed a four-year Aprilia contract, with a break clause for after 2028.
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Suzi Perry is ‘hearing’ that Jorge Martin has only signed an NDA, rather than a contract, with Yamaha
But since their respective transfers emerged, Martin has emerged as a true title contender in a potential all-Aprilia battle with teammate Marco Bezzecchi. Martin trails the Italian by one single point atop the standings after five rounds, with the RS-GP also the best bike this term.
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Given his early form, including Martin winning the Sprint and Grand Prix in France last week as the first rider to do the double in 2026, Aprilia privately think they can still keep Martin in 2027. And Perry is hearing that Martin could yet get out of his agreement with Yamaha, as it is not an official contract with the Japanese manufacturer but a non-disclosure agreement.
Perry said on TNT Sports 2 (15/05, 09:56): “The rumour is that he’s signed an agreement to go to Yamaha next year. We’re hearing that it’s an NDA, not a full contract, where usually sometimes there’s a little bit of flexibility in the small print.
“This man, Massimo Rivola, wants to obviously keep Jorge Martin on that bike. He wants to keep him and Bez together as a team, because what a formidable team it is.”
While Perry is hearing that Martin may have signed a letter of understanding and an NDA to join Yamaha in 2027, Neil Hodgson is clear that he has only heard that a formal contract has already been signed. Martin may have also signed an NDA to keep his move private for now.
Hodgson replied: “I’m not aware that it’s NDAs that have been signed. As far as I’m aware, contracts have been signed.”
Sylvain Guintoli thinks Jorge Martin will have to ‘honour’ his Yamaha move once it is announced
Sylvain Guintoli thinks the only reason why there may now be some doubts emerging about Martin’s move to Yamaha and what sort of agreement he has signed for 2027 is because his contract has not been announced. Once it is officially confirmed, it would be hard to break.
While “a lot of money” could change hands to see Martin sign a new Aprilia contract, rather than joining Yamaha, which may also leave Bagnaia potentially in the cold, Guintoli suspects the damage it would do to their images will make it impossible if the moves are confirmed.
Guintoli added (15/05, 09:59): “I think the only reason why we would be talking about not honouring those contracts is because they’ve not been announced publicly.
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“Once they’ve been announced publicly, it’s very hard for the manufacturers or anybody to turn that around. Because, obviously, if it’s in the public domain, and for manufacturers and you’re going with a rider, to break that, there’s lots of implications on how your brand is going to be seen, or how the rider is going to be seen.
“Because it’s not been announced, maybe we could get some shuffling with the contracts. But that would mean a lot of money being shifted around. I’ve got to say, I can’t see that happening. I think the contracts have been signed and they’re gonna have to honour it.”
MotoGP teams have collectively agreed not to announce their 2027 line-ups yet, as the five constructors are still negotiating a fresh commercial agreement with MotoGP for the 2027-2031 period. Currently, only four riders have been announced as having contracts for 2027.
Yamaha signed Toprak Razgatlioglu to a two-year MotoGP contract to record his debut with Pramac in 2026. Honda also have LCR duo Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira signed to works contracts through 2027. Bezzecchi signed a new contract with Aprilia until 2028 in February.
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