According to reports Jorge Martin’s Aprilia exit looms as the reigning MotoGP world champion is believed to be seeking an early exit from his contract.
After clinching the 2024 World Championship with Pramac Ducati, Martin’s decision to switch to Aprilia was seen on paper as one of the most significant moves in recent MotoGP history. It was a bold step – one that promised to shake up the competitive order and potentially elevate Aprilia to new heights.
However, as the 2025 season unfolds the narrative has taken a dramatic turn culminating in Jorge Martin’s Aprilia exit through invocation of a contractual clause for early release, sending shockwaves through the MotoGP paddock.
The roots of this saga trace back to the rider market frenzy following the 2024 Italian Grand Prix. Martin buoyed by his championship success was the hottest property on the grid and Aprilia’s swift move to secure his signature for 2025 and 2026 was regarded as a coup.
The deal was celebrated as a strategic masterstroke for the Noale-based manufacturer who had struggled to consistently challenge the established giants like Ducati and Honda. Martin was expected to be the benchmark, the rider who could finally convert Aprilia’s promise into regular podiums and victories.
A troubled start to the season
Yet, the optimism that surrounded Martin’s arrival quickly dissipated as the 2025 MotoGP pre-season began. The first signs of trouble emerged during the Sepang test where the Spaniard suffered a heavy crash on the opening day.
However, it wasn’t long before what was initially thought to be a minor setback soon escalated. Subsequent motocross training incident aggravated his injuries resulting in further fractures.
The situation got to its worst at the Qatar Grand Prix where Martin crashed before even completing a lap in race conditions, suffering eleven fractured ribs.
These injuries forced him to miss the opening rounds and Dorna’s refusal to grant him a private test day with the RS-GP meant he was unable to acclimatize to his new machinery before returning to competition.
Aprilia’s own struggles compounded Martin’s woes. The RS-GP, a bike lauded in previous seasons for its front-end stability and agility appeared to lose its competitive edge in 2025 MotoGP.
During the Qatar Grand Prix, the Italian outfit was the only manufacturer without a bike in the top fourteen – a stark contrast to its upward trajectory at the close of 2024.
The team’s inability to provide Martin with a race-winning package combined with his physical setbacks has left both parties under immense pressure.
Jorge Martin’s Aprilia exit clause
As the season progresses, Martin’s absence from the first half of the championship due to injury leaves him languishing at the bottom of the standings with zero points after six Grands Prix.
The scenario – unthinkable when he and Aprilia struck their deal – has reportedly activated a little-known exit clause in his contract.
The clause negotiated by Martin’s management and accepted by Aprilia stipulates that if Martin was not among the top riders in the championship after the French Grand Prix, he would be free to pursue opportunities elsewhere for 2026.
With Martin currently sitting 26th in the 2025 MotoGP standings and out of title contention, it means the conditions for the exit clause were unequivocally met.
According to Motorsport.com, Martin made a low profile appearance at Le Mans on Friday to attend a number of meetings one of which was to inform the Aprilia management of his plan to activate the release clause for 2026.
However, Martin is reportedly open to extend the evaluation period up to the San Marino GP on September 12–14 out of respect for Aprilia.
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Aprilia responds
The news of Jorge Martin’s Aprilia exit at the end of 2025 broke just after the French Grand Prix, sending ripples through the MotoGP paddock.
Aprilia, blindsided by the rapid unraveling of their marquee signing responded with a terse “no comment” and immediately began contesting the validity of the exit clause.
The manufacturer’s stance is rooted in the belief that Martin’s lack of participation due to injury should not trigger the clause, arguing that he has not had a fair opportunity to compete and demonstrate his value to the team.
Legal experts and paddock insiders are now closely monitoring the situation as it threatens to escalate into a protracted legal battle. Aprilia is determined not to lose the centerpiece of its MotoGP project without a fight especially given the investment and expectations that accompanied Martin’s arrival.
For Martin, however, the combination of physical setbacks, a non-competitive package and the psychological toll of a disastrous campaign has made the prospect of a fresh start elsewhere increasingly attractive.
