Aprilia-Martin in the final credits? Marini's accident could push Jorge towards Honda

Jorge Martin is also certain to be present at the big Aprilia party on Sunday 1 June at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. It is said that Jorge, along with many other riders led by Marco Bezzecchi, Lorenzo Savadori, Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura, will also participate in the spectacular Race of Stars aboard the Aprilia Rs 660 Factory. Will this be an opportunity to understand the atmosphere between Martin and Aprilia? We'll see. Only four months have passed since Aprilia spoke of a "world dream" in the presentation of its 2025 MotoGP team and the reigning world champion of the premier class Jorge Martin, who moved from Ducati-Pramac to the Noale team, was aiming for an encore: "I'm in the right place for great things". Marco Bezzecchi's victory at Silverstone , although significant for the rider and the Noale team, does not lift the leaden cloud that weighs on Aprilia regarding the "Martin issue". A question that, beyond miracles, leaves no room for optimism, that is, for the mending of relations between Martin and Aprilia, bringing everything back to how it was before, with Jorge ready (at the Dutch GP at the end of June?) to return to MotoGP with his new bike with which he had the heavy fall in Qatar after the previous crash in the tests at Sepang. The message from CEO Rivola after Bezzecchi's success: "Silverstone speaks clearly, Aprilia is a winning bike even with Jorge, who we are waiting for" does not seem to have untied the knots of the relationship with Martin who in his latest social statement yesterday reiterates that he has not violated the contract: "There is a specific clause in the contract ... I have exercised my right to leave Aprilia at the end of 2025".

In essence Jorge is asking Aprilia for more time to decide but in fact he is claiming his possible choice thanks to a contractual clause in which he would have an option in his favor to leave Noale if he were not fighting for the championship after 6 GPs. This really happened, but because Martin only raced one race, the Sprint in Qatar. Beyond the dance of words, always to be interpreted, Martin has not made any U-turn making it clear that his story with Aprilia has reached the end credits. On the other hand, Aprilia is “only” asking for respect for the contract, it certainly cannot wait for Martin's request to let more time and other Grand Prix pass to decide on his return and his future. All this in a context that has already been outlined, with Martin oriented towards other shores, whatever the cost, both with respect to the fact of not returning to the track this year, and with respect to any penalties to be paid. Yes. Increasingly reliable rumors speak of an open negotiation between Martin and Honda, even for a three-year contract, from 2026 to 2028.

In this context, Luca Marini's heavy accident in the Suzuki 8 Hours tests (the Italian rider will be absent from racing for months and in any case his contract expires at the end of the 2025 season) although it has no direct relationship with the Martin issue, could still favor a change in the official Honda MotoGP team. Honda remains in MotoGP and wants to regain its leading role, fighting for the title. The excellent Zarco is happy where he is, in LCR even with the same bikes as the official riders and a strong adjustment at the top of his contract. Honda has strengthened its racing team and is working on a new bike to regain the number one. For this reason it wants a new "number one" rider. Here is the Jorge Martin card.