Martin and Aprilia will continue together in 2026. Jorge: "It's not all sunshine and rainbows, but I'll give it my all."

Jorge Martin will continue with Aprilia in 2026. The outgoing world champion announced the news himself, attending Brno this weekend, where he will return to MotoGP after four months. The Spaniard is tied to the Italian team until the end of next season, but in recent months, a dramatic split seemed to be taking shape. This departure was made possible by a clause in his contract that, theoretically, would have allowed Martin to leave if he wasn't in contention for the title after the first few races. Having recovered from the injury suffered in Qatar, the two-time world champion explained how the idea of continuing with the Noale-based team came about.

Martin doesn't hide his emotion: "I'm happy to be back in the paddock. These have been difficult months. I've suffered a lot." Then the announcement: "I will continue with Aprilia in 2026. I'll explain what happened: after my second or third injury, I started to have a lot of doubts, even about myself. I thought about testing the bike and then activating the clause. Aprilia denied me this opportunity, and I understand the team because they're fighting for their rights. So we started a battle. I could have continued, but sometimes you have to make decisions. I chose to stay for another season." He extends special thanks to the Italian team: "During the tests, I didn't have a good feeling, and the situation hadn't improved with the injuries. Now I see how much the bike has evolved, and that has helped me feel confident. Bezzecchi is doing a great job. The RS-GP has potential. I have to thank Marco and the team for what they've done so far."

The reigning champion knows the potential divorce has sparked controversy, but he remains calm: “I have no regrets. Over the past few months, I've tried to make the best decision for my future. No one can understand what it feels like to be in the hospital with 12 broken ribs. Only my father and my fiancée know what I've been through. Honda was an option, but it wasn't the only option. The most important thing is communication with Aprilia. I feel free to talk to them. I haven't apologized because I don't think I should. If anything helps improve our relationship, I'll do it. It's not all roses, but I'll give it my all.”

Jorge seems confident about the future: “Relationships are like a roller coaster. There was a fight between me and Aprilia, but now we're back together and we want to win in the future. I think it's possible to love each other again. When I signed the contract, I wanted to feel safe. That's why I wanted the clause. The time in the hospital certainly didn't help me in my decisions. Before returning to racing, I wanted to close the matter, without discussing it with Aprilia again. Of course, if the discussion had been loud, it would have been difficult to work together again. Both the team and I were honest: we need to give each other another chance.” Martin also recalls his fears: “I was afraid I wouldn't be able to race again. I faced several doubts. Now I'm here to give my best. I'll share my impressions on the bike. Then I hope to be able to fight for the podium and therefore the win. I feel good physically. I need a lot of hours on the RS-GP. I've used this time to work. I think I'm a better rider.”