Jorge Martin has clarified that his decision to remain with Aprilia for the 2026 MotoGP season was not primarily influenced by financial factors. After several months of contractual disputes, Martin officially confirmed his continuation with Aprilia during his return to the Czech Grand Prix at Brno.
Throughout the 2025 season, Martin has faced numerous setbacks, missing the entire pre-season testing and participating in only two races (Qatar and the Czech Republic) due to a series of injuries. As he worked on his comeback, tensions rose between him and Aprilia. Martin and his manager, Albert Valera, attempted to invoke a contract exit clause, with Valera asserting that Martin would become a free agent in 2026.
However, at Brno, Martin chose to end the standoff and commit to Aprilia’s team moving forward.
In an interview with Spanish broadcaster Dazn, Martin emphasized that although financial considerations were present, they did not drive his decision. He explained that the most important factor for him has always been finding the best sporting opportunities—a principle his father instilled in him from a young age. According to Martin, achieving good results will naturally take care of the financial side.
Another significant reason behind his decision was the impressive performance of his teammate Marco Bezzecchi, who has recently secured a win at Silverstone and multiple podium finishes at Assen, Sachsenring, and Brno. Martin said, “What motivated me was what I believed was best for my future, and I now believe that is with Aprilia.” He added that seeing the progress in the bike’s performance made it a clear choice to stay.
Martin finished seventh at the Brno Grand Prix and entered the halfway point of the 2025 season with just nine points but is now rejuvenated and ready for the challenges ahead in the second half of the year.
Fan Take: Jorge Martin’s decision to stick with Aprilia highlights the importance of team dynamics and competitive growth over money in MotoGP. His renewed commitment and motivation could shake up the championship battle, promising more excitement and fierce competition in the upcoming races.
