After months of injury setbacks, legal drama, and serious doubts about his future, reigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Martin has confirmed he’s staying put at Aprilia MotoGP until the end of 2026. What started as a rocky relationship filled with contractual tension and public dispute now seems to be heading toward reconciliation—with Martin ready to put the past behind and focus on racing again.
How It All Began
Martin signed a two-year contract with Aprilia for 2025 and 2026 after clinching the 2024 title with Pramac Ducati. But things began to unravel before the season even got going. After suffering multiple injuries—including a brutal crash in Qatar that left him with 12 broken ribs and a collapsed lung—Martin triggered a performance clause in his contract. The clause gave him the right to exit if he wasn’t in championship contention by round six (Le Mans), and due to his absence from most races, he felt it was valid.
But Aprilia and to some extent even Dorna disagreed. They stood firm, stating that the contract remained in full force and that any attempted exit would lead to legal action. As things escalated, even Martin’s manager publicly claimed the rider was “free for 2026,” hinting at talks with Honda and other teams.
A Saga Comes to an End
Fast forward to the German Grand Prix weekend, and things finally came to a head. Dorna—the sport’s governing body—stepped in to mediate, effectively freezing any chance of a mid-contract switch without mutual agreement. With legal pressure mounting and options narrowing, Martin made the decision to stay.
At a special press conference in Brno ahead of his return to the Czech GP, Martin confirmed: “I’m happy to say that I’ll continue with Aprilia for 2026.”
Martin Speaks Out: “No Regrets”
Despite everything that unfolded over the past few months, Martin insists he has no regrets. “Everything I did, I thought was best for my future and for me,” he said. “Nobody can understand what I went through—being in hospital with 12 broken ribs, not being able to sleep for a week. It changes your mindset.”
He also made it clear that he hasn’t apologized to Aprilia. “I did what I felt was right. If the team wants me to do something to improve the relationship, I will, because it’s important to feel like a family in the paddock. But I don’t feel I need to apologise for making decisions I believed were right for my career.”
Relationship Status: Rebuilding
Martin acknowledged there’s still tension between him and Aprilia, but emphasized that the key to mending things is communication. “We’re speaking again. I’ve talked with the whole team, the test crew, and with Massimo [Rivola, Aprilia CEO]. It won’t be all roses right away, but I’ll give my best to make this work.”
He even likened the situation to a romantic relationship: “It’s like a rollercoaster. You fall in love, then you fight. But if you care about each other, you work hard to stay together and fight for the same goals. That’s where we are now.”
Why He Changed His Mind
So, what convinced Martin to backtrack? A mix of factors. He didn’t want to return to the track with unresolved issues hanging over his head. He also acknowledged that Aprilia’s recent progress—especially team-mate Marco Bezzecchi’s podiums and win at Silverstone—proved the bike had potential.
Martin admitted: “I’m not stupid. I see what Marco is doing with the RS-GP. There’s a lot of potential. So now the focus is on working together and winning.”
A Rough Start to 2025
Martin’s 2025 season has been anything but smooth. His only grand prix appearance so far ended in a crash at Qatar. He’s spent most of the year recovering, but returned for a private test at Misano last week, logging over 60 laps and feeling strong.
“I remember Daniele, my crew chief, saying I’d maybe do 40 laps. I told him I’d do more—and I did. We nailed it,” he said, adding that his physical condition is now the best it’s ever been.
Looking Ahead to Brno and Beyond
Martin returns to race action at Brno this weekend, a track that holds sentimental value—he scored his first-ever podium here back in 2016 in Moto3. Despite the off-track drama, he’s eager to focus on racing. “I’m just excited to go to bed. Tomorrow is a new day,” he quipped during Thursday’s media briefing.
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola acknowledged that Martin would need time—“at least three races”—to get fully up to speed. But he’s optimistic that once both Martin and Bezzecchi are pushing together, Aprilia’s performance will rise further.
Pressure to Perform
MotoGP insiders believe the only true way for Martin to fully repair his relationship with Aprilia is through results. “If he wins, everything will be forgiven and forgotten,” said Peter McLaren on the Crash MotoGP podcast. “He has to prove that Aprilia made the right call in keeping him.”
With Bezzecchi currently the top non-Ducati rider and Aprilia sitting second in the manufacturers’ standings, the pressure is on Martin to contribute—and fast.
Back in Love?
Jorge Martin may have considered walking away, but now he’s staying—willing to fight, rebuild, and maybe even fall back in love with Aprilia. “I think it’s possible to get back in love,” he said. And if he can match Bezzecchi’s form and start winning again, this messy saga might just have a fairytale ending after all.
