MotoGP: Jorge Martín announces departure from Aprilia at the end of the year

On Thursday morning (29), Jorge Martín officially announced that he will leave Aprilia at the end of the season. The current MotoGP world champion revealed that he activated the performance clause provided for in his contract, thus ending his time with the Noale team early.

The announcement came after months of speculation, which began at the French GP, when the Autosport website reported that Martín had gone to Le Mans to discuss this clause. At the time, Aprilia denied any negotiations, ensuring that the Spaniard would stay until 2026. However, Martín made a point of explaining his position and clarifying the reasons for his choice.

In a lengthy statement, the rider stressed that he never breached his contract. He revealed that, when signing with Aprilia, one of the essential conditions was precisely the possibility of reviewing the future until 2026 if certain circumstances were not met. “I have always done this with respect, clearly and with the sole intention of taking control of my future as a professional athlete,” he stated.

Martín also stressed that his decision was not made impulsively. He explained that one of the premises for changing brands in 2024 was to test the Aprilia bike in real conditions and understand the harmony with the team and its work methodology. This alignment was essential to justify a two-year contract, as was eventually signed.

However, the serious injuries he suffered completely changed the scenario. Jorge acknowledged that the crashes and accidents have impacted the current phase, even if they do not directly affect what was agreed with the team. “I have always been open to dialogue with Aprilia to extend this period to a certain number of Grands Prix, but the time has come to make a decision,” he concluded.

The 2025 season was particularly difficult for the Spaniard. He suffered an accident in the pre-season and, despite trying to recover with an off-road test, a new round of injuries delayed his debut until the Qatar GP. In Lusail, a crash resulted in 11 broken ribs and a punctured lung, which once again kept him off the track.

During his absence, Aprilia remained loyal to its champion and did not look for another starter. The task of replacing Martín fell to Lorenzo Savadori, the team's test rider, who took over the races while the regular continued to recover.

However, this weekend, Marco Bezzecchi took an important victory with Aprilia during the British GP. After the race, the team's CEO, Massimo Rivola, sent a direct message to Martín: "Our bike can win," he said, in a clear demonstration of confidence in the RS-GP's potential even without the world champion present.

In his speech, Jorge made a point of praising Aprilia. He highlighted his respect for the bike, the team and the efforts of everyone involved in the project. “The only thing I ask is that you respect my wishes and the spirit of what we agreed at the time with Aprilia,” he said, emphasizing that his departure does not involve conflicts or resentments.

Finally, Martín thanked all the fans and the team for their understanding and support throughout this turbulent period. “I just want to be able to look forward with clarity, after very difficult moments and a very serious injury, and continue to give my best on and off the track,” he concluded.

So far, Aprilia has not yet made an official statement regarding Jorge Martín's statement.