The MotoGP 2025 season has been a nightmare for the reigning World Champion, Jorge Martin, who joined Aprilia Racing with high hopes. After a difficult start marked by injuries and underwhelming results, Martin has publicly declared his intention to leave Aprilia at the end of the 2025 season. However, Aprilia and others have made it clear that the contract is valid through 2026 and will not be breached at any cost.
What Happened and Why Jorge Martin Wants to Leave Aprilia
Jorge Martin’s 2025 campaign with Aprilia has been severely disturbed by a series of injuries, limiting him to just one race weekend so far. These setbacks, combined with the RS-GP bike’s struggles to consistently challenge at the front, have left Martin frustrated. In May 2025, Martin announced via social media that he was exercising a performance clause in his contract, which allows him to terminate the deal early if certain results are not met by mid-season.
Martin’s decision stems from the fact that Aprilia’s performance has not met expectations, and his injuries prevented him from fully showing his potential on the bike. The clause he invoked was reportedly based on Aprilia’s position in the championship after the first six rounds, which did not favor the team. Martin expressed a desire to take control of his professional future, emphasizing that his decision was made respectfully and in line with contractual rights.
The Current Situation: Is Jorge Martin Leaving Aprilia or Not?
The situation has since evolved into a legal and public relations standoff. Aprilia insists that Martin’s contract is valid through the end of 2026 and must be honored, denying that any negotiations to shorten the contract have taken place. The team’s CEO, Massimo Rivola, has stated that Aprilia remains committed to Martin and highlighted recent team successes, such as Marco Bezzecchi’s British GP win, which proves RS-GP’s competitiveness.
However, Martin’s camp, led by his manager Albert Valera, firmly maintains that the rider is free of contract for 2026 after exercising the clause. Valera has publicly stated that Martin is open and available to sign with any manufacturer, with Honda HRC widely rumored as the preferred destination for 2026.
Aprilia holds the upper hand contractually and could pursue legal action to enforce the contract, but such proceedings could be lengthy and potentially damaging to both parties’ reputations. Reports suggest that a financial settlement is being discussed as of now, although it’s highly unlikely for Jorge Martin to leave Aprilia.
Also Read: Jorge Martin Injury Update As He Gets Out Of The Hospital
