Aprilia management suggest Martin may opt to stay amid MotoGP contract saga

Senior figures at Aprilia have lent weight to reports and rumours that Jorge Martin will stay with the Italian team in 2026, but stopped short of confirming an end to their contract dispute with the world champion. 

This follows Martin’s return from long-term injury to ride the Aprilia MotoGP bike earlier in the week, when he tested at Misano, and the news that the Spaniard will travel to Brno to participate in the Czech GP next weekend. 

Speaking to DAZN at the Sachsenring on Friday, Aprilia team manager Paolo Bonora said: “We have always worked with the idea that Jorge is an Aprilia rider. We are very positive about it. I was before, and I’m even more so now. 

“It was a very positive, happy test. Both Jorge and Aprilia Racing are very happy.” 

Then, at a subsequent press conference, CEO Massimo Rivola appeared in no mood to deny the suggestions. His choice of words also hinted that Martin’s “desire” to leave could now be in the past.   

“If the rider [Martin] had this desire for a moment, I think he had his reason to do it,” said Rivola. “And obviously someone [Martin’s manager Albert Valera] did it, so there’s not much to say and to add.” 

While the rest of Rivola’s reply on the Martin matter amounted to ‘our position hasn’t changed’, this could be interpreted as confirmation that the Noale manufacturer has resolved the dispute in its favour. 

“My position – our position – has been the same from day one. I think we didn’t move by a finger on that. So, for us, there is no news because we think that the future is already fixed. 

“Obviously, we are quite focused on that. We are looking forward. We can’t wait to see him back.” 

Rivola added that it had been hard to prise an enthusiastic Martin from the RS-GP at the Misano test. 

“I tell you that in Misano, he was ready to have [one] last run. And I said, ‘I think it’s okay like this’. So, I’m super positive.” 

Martin will need to pass a fitness test on Thursday 17 July in order to gain clearance to take part in the Czech GP – the final round of the championship before the summer break.