Martin expresses zero “regret” over Aprilia standoff for MotoGP 2026

Reigning MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin has revealed he doesn’t “regret” his recent contractual standoff with Aprilia having now dropped the saga. 

Martin joined Aprilia for 2025 on a two-year contract from Pramac Ducati, but in May confirmed his desire to trigger a contractual clause which allowed him to leave at the end of the season.

The clause stated that if he was not in contention for the title after round six – Le Mans – then he could leave and because Martin has only started one grand prix this year due to various injuries, a championship defence is almost impossible.

It was a saga that rumbled on for months, but then at last weekend’s German Grand Prix it was confirmed Martin will remain with Aprilia following the intervention of series organiser, Dorna. 

To many, Martin’s reputation has been tarnished but speaking ahead of his MotoGP return at this weekend’s Czech Grand Prix, the Spaniard confirmed “I don’t regret anything”.

“Everything that I did in these few months was what I thought was better for my future and me,” added Martin, whose only grand prix start this year has come in Qatar, where he crashed out with several fractured ribs and a pneumothorax.

“Nobody can understand when you are in the hospital with 12 broken ribs, that you can not sleep for one week. Nobody can understand what was running through my mind.

“So everything I did was because I thought it was a better thing for my future and that’s the thing I do know to stay here.”

“I’m really happy to be here again,” he added. “It was a really difficult 6 or 7 months suffering a lot with a lot of injuries, but finally, I’m happy to be here and to be back in MotoGP. Finally, I’m happy to say that I’ll continue with Aprilia for 2026.”

Martin then doubled-down on his ‘no regret’, laying out in clear terms he didn’t do anything wrong even if there had been tension between him and the Italian manufacturer. 

“For sure, when you arrive in the paddock after all the situation being out of the paddock, you can feel a bit of the tension,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the most important thing between the rider and the team is the communication, to speak.

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing

Photo by: Aprilia Racing

“If anything is wrong, they have the freedom to speak with me and if I feel anything is wrong, I have the freedom to speak with them.

“And no, I did not apologise to them because I feel I don’t need to apologise for anything. I did what was the best for my career and now we are together so we speak together.

“If they feel I have to do something to improve the relationship, I will do it and for me it is very important to have a family in the paddock. I will work hard to make this family so we are ready for what’s coming.”

Had Martin been able to leave Aprilia in 2025, it is understood that the factory Honda team would have been his most likely destination – but the 27-year-old said it wasn’t so clear-cut. 

“Honda was an option, but it was not the only option I have to say,” he said. “In relationships, it’s like a rollercoaster. 

“You can fall in love, then you have some fights, but finally if you like the other person at the end of the day, you will work hard to stay together and fight for your targets.

“This is the point we are now. I can not say anything happened. For sure, we had a big fight with Aprilia, but now is the time to start to build together because we both want to be together at the moment and we want to win in the future, so this is the important thing. It’s possible to get back in love, let’s say.”