MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin revealed on Thursday that he plans to leave Aprilia before the 2026 season, despite the Italian manufacturer expecting him to fulfil the full term of his two-year contract.
Martin, who claimed his maiden world title last year with Pramac Racing, joined Aprilia on a deal running through 2026. However, the 27-year-old has endured a difficult start with his new team, failing to score a single point after seven rounds.
His campaign has been derailed by injuries — a pre-season crash left him with wrist and ankle damage, ruling him out of the opening three rounds. In his return race in Qatar, another crash resulted in a collapsed lung and bruised ribs, sidelining him further.
“When I made the decision to switch manufacturers last year, one of my conditions was to test the bike in real situations and get to know the team and its working style,” Martin said in a statement.
“This gave me the confidence to sign a two-year deal instead of one, and we included a clause allowing me to reconsider based on certain conditions. Given the timeline stipulated in the contract, I’ve now decided to activate my option to explore other opportunities for 2026.”
Aprilia previously stated they had no discussions with Martin about an early exit and warned rival teams against initiating contact. The team insists they expect him to remain with them through the end of 2026.
Martin, however, emphasized that his decision was within the bounds of the original agreement.
“I’ve never breached the contract,” he said. “When we signed it, Aprilia and I agreed that if specific conditions weren’t met, I would have the right to determine my future. That clause was a key factor in accepting their proposal.”
He concluded by saying, “There’s no conflict — I’m simply taking control of my career and making a choice about what’s best for my future.”
