MotoGP: Jorge Martin to Stay with Aprilia for 2026 Season
MotoGP Champion Jorge Martin confirms Aprilia stay for 2026 after contract dispute. Returning to Brno, he looks to bounce back after injury setback.
By Divyam Dubey
Jorge Martin has officially ruled out a potential Honda switch and confirmed he will stay with Aprilia Racing for the 2026 MotoGP season. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Brno Grand Prix, Martin ended weeks of speculation about his future. While he had earlier indicated plans to activate a release clause in his contract, Aprilia maintained he was still committed to them for next year. Now, the Spanish rider has decided to continue with the Italian team.
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Martin, who is returning to action after a long injury break, spoke openly about the difficulties he has faced this season. The 2024 MotoGP World Champion struggled with the Aprilia RS-GP's performance and slipped outside the top three in the standings, prompting him to consider a move, reportedly to Honda. But with a renewed focus and recovery behind him, Martin is now ready to push forward with Aprilia.
The contract situation became tense when Martin attempted to leave after just one year with the team. Aprilia claimed this was a violation, pointing out that he had only raced once in Qatar before his injury. The manufacturer insisted that the contract still held, and even threatened legal action to block any move to a rival team, including the speculated Honda deal.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta also got involved, saying Martin wouldn’t be cleared to ride for another team unless the dispute with Aprilia was resolved. That added pressure likely played a role in Martin’s final decision to stay. With the legal and contractual hurdles now out of the way, both Martin and Aprilia can shift their focus back to the 2025 season.
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As the MotoGP paddock heads into the Brno GP weekend, attention turns to Martin’s performance on track. With the Honda switch off the table and his future with Aprilia confirmed, he can now concentrate on racing, regain his rhythm, and fight to return to the top of the standings.
