At the MotoGP German Grand Prix on Friday, it became evident that Jorge Martin and Aprilia had resolved their contract dispute, with the reigning world champion committing to complete his two-year agreement and remain with the team through 2026. The protracted impasse, which began during the French Grand Prix in May, ended due to key interventions that reinforced Aprilia’s position.
Carmelo Ezpeleta’s Role in Resolving the Contract Impasse
The deadlock between Martin and Aprilia was decisively broken at the Assen round of the championship, where Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta intervened. Ezpeleta cautioned that neither Dorna nor IRTA—the Teams’ Association—would register a rider who had unresolved contract conflicts with a team or manufacturer. This stance effectively ended Martin’s chances of exiting Aprilia’s contract early to join Honda for the following season.
“We will not accept the registration in the world championship of any rider who is not free, either through a judge’s ruling or through having reached an agreement with the other party,”
said Ezpeleta.
This statement ended the strategy employed by Martin and his agent, Albert Valera, while supporting Aprilia’s claim that Martin’s release clause was void due to his ongoing injury, which had prevented full participation in races.
Background of the Contract Dispute: Missed Opportunities and Negotiations
The roots of the conflict trace back to June’s Italian Grand Prix, when Martin’s camp discovered Ducati would not uphold a verbal agreement to promote him to their factory team, opting instead for Marc Marquez. The news arrived late on Sunday, turning Martin’s status from a potential factory rider to one rejected suddenly. In response, Valera engaged Honda, who had already shown interest earlier in the season, renewing their intent to sign Martin.
Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro, then Aprilia’s team leader, urged the manufacturer’s CEO Massimo Rivola to act swiftly and present an offer to retain Martin. This led to a rapid agreement being signed on the Monday following the Italian Grand Prix episode. Although Honda’s offer exceeded Aprilia’s financially, Martin felt the Honda machine was not competitive enough compared to the Aprilia RS-GP. To keep his options open, Martin’s contract contained a conditional escape clause that they believed could free him in 2026.
The release clause stipulated that if Martin was not ranked within the top five in the championship standings after the first six races, he could sign with Honda. However, Aprilia declared the clause invalid, citing Martin’s injury and subsequent absence from racing during that period. Despite this, Martin traveled covertly to Le Mans to activate the clause and informed Aprilia of his intent to leave, even meeting with Ezpeleta, who warned him against breaking his contract prematurely.
Tensions Rise as the Dispute Becomes Public
Efforts to keep the contractual disagreement private failed when Autosport published the story, escalating tensions between Martin and Aprilia significantly. Before the British Grand Prix, Aprilia issued a statement denying any modifications to the contract and warning other teams to avoid making offers to riders currently under contract.
“Aprilia Racing denies that any negotiations have taken place between the parties to modify the duration of the contract, which remains as originally agreed upon. The team has no comment on matters that do not directly concern it but expects other teams to refrain from making any kind of offer to riders who are under contract. Such behaviour would, in any case, not be legitimate.”
This message was understood as a direct response to Honda, reinforcing Aprilia’s firm stance. Legally, Martin’s lawyers wanted disputes handled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but Aprilia insisted on jurisdiction in Milan’s courts, further complicating matters.
Agent’s Provocative Statement and the Final Resolution at Assen
Albert Valera escalated tensions further during a live MotoGP broadcast at Assen by declaring,
“Jorge Martin is free to sign with whoever he wants for 2026.”
This provocation intended for Honda backfired when Ezpeleta responded by strengthening Aprilia’s position on enforcing the contract. Valera then proposed a buyout option, but Aprilia’s asking price was prohibitively high, shutting down any plausible exit strategy for Martin before 2027.
Aprilia’s Determination and Martin’s Return to Racing
Backed by the Piaggio Group, Aprilia remained unwavering in its refusal to negotiate the contract release. Simultaneously, the team sought to maintain Martin’s confidence through a revitalized MotoGP project, highlighted by rider Marco Bezzecchi’s British Grand Prix victory this season. The team’s commitment was reaffirmed during a testing session at Misano, where Martin returned to the bike for the first time since his injury in Qatar, with team executives present to show support.
Looking Ahead: Martin’s Next Moves and Potential Future in MotoGP
Nearly two months after the dispute first came to light, Martin has accepted that he will race for Aprilia until the end of 2026, focusing on retaining his status as a championship contender. After fulfilling his contract, he will have full freedom to choose his future, which currently seems unlikely to include Aprilia. Whether Honda maintains its interest in signing Martin for 2027 remains uncertain, leaving the MotoGP paddock awaiting his next move.
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