MotoGP champ Martin eyes early exit from Aprilia

MotoGP satellite champion Jorge Martin announced his volition to permission Aprilia earlier the 2026 play connected Thursday, a week aft the Italian squad said it expected the Spanish rider to grant his two-year contract.

The 27-year-old, who won his archetypal MotoGP rubric past play with Pramac Racing, switched to Aprilia and has yet to people a constituent this twelvemonth aft 7 rounds.

Wrist and ankle injuries sustained successful a preseason clang ruled him retired of the archetypal 3 rounds earlier a clang successful his archetypal contention successful Qatar led to a collapsed lung and bruised ribs.

"When I made the determination to alteration manufacturers past year, 1 of my premises was to person the anticipation to trial the motorcycle successful existent circumstances and to recognize the squad and its moving methodology," Martin said successful a statement. "In this mode I could consciousness comfy signing for 2 years alternatively of one, and truthful we included that condition.

"Faced with the concern of having to marque a determination connected a day that is established by contract, I person decided to workout my close to merchandise myself for the 2026 season."

Aprilia said past week that it had not had immoderate negotiations with Martin to alteration his declaration portion besides informing different teams not to attack him.

Martin said helium was taking power of his aboriginal arsenic a nonrecreational athlete.

"At nary clip person I ever breached the contract," helium said. "When we signed it, I agreed with Aprilia that, if definite circumstances were not met, I reserved the close to determine my aboriginal for 2026."

Without Martin, Aprilia has struggled for results but yet won a contention this play erstwhile Marco Bezzecchi triumphed successful the British Grand Prix connected Sunday.

Following the victory, which came aft contention person Fabio Quartararo retired with a method issue, Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola said: "This is simply a connection for Jorge: Our motorcycle tin win."

However, Martin remains unconvinced they tin vie successful the agelong tally and volition look for different shaper by the extremity of the season.

Martin was successful the moving past twelvemonth for a mill Ducati spot that went to six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, who leads this year's title with 196 points.

Martin completed lone 13 laps successful preseason investigating and retired from the lone contention helium competed successful aft the clang successful Qatar.

"Unfortunately, the circumstances that person occurred arsenic a effect of the crashes, though it is existent that they bash not impact what we agreed, person conditioned this phase," Martin said.

While the doorway to Ducati whitethorn beryllium closed and KTM is struggling for results, Honda could connection him a seat, particularly aft Luca Marini sustained terrible injuries successful a investigating crash. The Italian rider's declaration runs retired astatine the extremity of the season.