MotoGP’s reigning world champion Jorge Martin might be off the track due to injury, but off-track, the drama is running at full throttle. The Spanish rider and Aprilia are now locked in a tense contract standoff, with Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta stepping in to lay down the law: Martin won’t be switching teams for 2026 unless Aprilia agrees—or a court says otherwise.
It all started when Martin’s manager, Albert Valera, claimed during the Dutch GP weekend that his rider is free of contract for next year. According to Valera, a performance-based release clause was triggered, giving Martin the green light to explore other options. “He had the right to execute that clause, and he did so,” Valera told MotoGP.com. “He’s completely open and available.”
But Aprilia isn’t buying it.
The Italian manufacturer fired back quickly, stating that Martin’s contract is still fully valid through the end of 2026 and must be respected. “The contract between Aprilia Racing and Jorge Martín is valid and in effect,” their statement read. Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola backed that up at Assen, making it clear: “If a rider is not free from Aprilia, the rider cannot go anywhere.”
Dorna’s Carmelo Ezpeleta echoed that position in no uncertain terms. He stated that no rider under contract will be allowed to race for another team unless both parties agree to terminate the deal—or a legal ruling settles it. “We will not allow anyone to enter the championship without the agreement of the other party, or a ruling from the court,” he told Sky Sport Italia and Spanish TV.
For now, the only potential factory seat open for 2026 is at Honda alongside Joan Mir. While Valera admitted that HRC could be an option if things work out, Honda’s team manager Alberto Puig was quick to clarify: “We don’t sign contracts with riders that are on an ongoing contract.”
Amid the legal and contractual drama, Jorge Martin is still working to return from a string of injuries that have kept him out for most of his title defense. He missed the first three races after two preseason crashes, and then another crash during the Qatar GP has sidelined him ever since.
Aprilia is now targeting a cautious return, beginning with a private test at Misano scheduled for July 9. Rivola confirmed that if Martin gets medical clearance, they’ll evaluate his fitness on the RS-GP before deciding whether he’s ready to race again.
“I think Brno [Czech GP, July 18–20] could be a decent target,” said Rivola. “But first we need to do one step at a time.”
Aprilia is hoping that a return before the summer break will help Martin regain rhythm—both mentally and physically—and potentially shift focus away from the contract drama.
Despite the off-track friction, Rivola said the team is staying calm. “Clearly, he is not going to be free for 2026… but we are quite relaxed about that.”
One thing is certain: between legal tension, speculation about a move to Honda, and a long-awaited return to the grid, Jorge Martin’s 2025 season is turning out to be just as dramatic in the paddock as it is on the track.
