Following the major signing of MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin, Aprilia’s 2025 season rapidly turned into an emotional rollercoaster for both riders and the manufacturer. The struggles began when Martin suffered an injury during pre-season testing in Malaysia. Subsequent accidents and fractures plagued him, with the most severe occurring during his delayed RS-GP debut in Qatar after a collision with Fabio Di Giannantonio.
The situation worsened when Martin expressed a desire to invoke an exit clause in his contract to leave Aprilia at season’s end. His manager, Alberto Varela, publicly suggested Honda as a potential destination, but Aprilia’s CEO Massimo Rivola revealed in a MotoGP documentary how he confronted Martin about the rumors and firmly refused to let him go. Despite resistance from Aprilia, and with backing from Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Martin ultimately had to honor his full two-year contract.
Martins’ injury woes continued when he misjudged braking in the Motegi sprint and collided with teammate Marco Bezzecchi, fracturing a bone in his hand. In Martin’s absence, Bezzecchi—also a recent arrival from Ducati—led Aprilia to three Grand Prix victories and a historic third place in the rider standings. Rivola reflected on the season as emotionally charged and far from the team’s initial hopes of quickly contending for podiums, disrupted by Martin’s injuries and the Honda episode.
Aprilia faced the challenge of keeping Martin’s future open while clearly opposing any premature exit. Rivola noted that tough times often bring a team closer and aimed to reinforce to Martin that Aprilia was the right bike for him. At Silverstone, under intense speculation about Martin’s future, Bezzecchi secured Aprilia’s first win of the year, coinciding with Fabiano Sterracchini’s debut as technical chief. Rivola supported Martin by sending him a voicemail expressing encouragement during his recovery.
Martin recommitted to Aprilia for 2026 after returning at Brno, achieving a best finish of fourth before a further injury sidelined him again at Motegi. Rivola acknowledged that the upcoming season would be challenging for Martin, with his teammate Marco at peak form and emphasized the importance of mental preparation and adjustment to the bike. The only significant testing Martin could do before returning was at Misano, highlighting how little time he had to adapt beyond racing.
Rivola stated that although Martin would find it tough to move past the difficulties of 2025, he would benefit from the lessons learned. Meanwhile, alongside Bezzecchi’s three Grand Prix wins and sprint victories, Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez added a win at the Australian Grand Prix plus two podiums. Aprilia achieved a record-high second place in the constructors’ championship, behind only Ducati.
Fan Take: This tumultuous season for Aprilia, marked by Jorge Martin’s setbacks and the rise of Marco Bezzecchi, highlights the intense challenges and unpredictability in MotoGP. For racing enthusiasts, it underscores the resilience required to compete at the highest level and sets the stage for compelling rivalries and developments in the 2026 season.
