Jorge Martin's 2025 season with Aprilia will go down as one of the most tumultuous in recent MotoGP history. The Madrid native suffered a series of catastrophic injuries, attempted to break his contract to join Honda, before finally reconciling with the Italian team, galvanized by his teammate's successes… Reigning world champion after beating Francesco Bagnaia in 2024, Martin arrived in Noale with the number 1 on his bike and the ambition to establish himself permanently among the elite. But very quickly, everything fell apart.
Jorge Martin's first season at Aprilia Racing It was supposed to be the year of confirmation. It turned into a year of fractures, doubts… and contractual tensions rarely seen in MotoGP.
Martin never hid the fact that his plan A remained Ducati Lenovo TeamAfter two seasons competing for the title with PramacHe naturally saw himself promoted to a factory position. Ducati decided otherwise, preferring to bet on Marc MarquezResult: direction Aprilia for two seasons starting in 2025. A rational choice on paper, but emotionally difficult to digest.
From a sporting perspective, 2025 quickly turns into a nightmare. Martin disputes only 7 Grand Prix out of 22, suffering a series of serious injuries: fractures of the right hand and left foot in Sepang, fracture of the left hand during Supermoto training, 11 fractured ribs and a hemopneumothorax in Qatar and clavicle fracture during the Sprint in Japan…
The Doha accident marks a turning point. Confined to his hospital bed, Martin begins to doubt everything… including his future at Aprilia.
Au Grand Prix of France, in Le Mans, Martin report Aprilia of his intention to activate a performance clause to break his contract and aim for a transfer to Honda HRC as early as 2026.
More Aprilia The door is closed. For Noale, the pilot's prolonged absence, due to his injuries, renders this clause inapplicable. The conflict is bogged down.
Behind the scenes, Martin he even signed a three-year contract with HondaBut the operation fails: Honda refuses to make it official as long asAprilia does not release its pilot. Finally, Honda retreat and conserve Luca Marini.
Martin then has no choice but to stay at Aprilia in 2026.
Bezzecchi wins… and that bothers Jorge Martin
While Martin is injured and is negotiating, Marco Bezzecchi The RS-GP25 made its presence felt. At Silverstone, taking advantage of the retirement of fabio quartararo, it offers to Aprilia a major victory and a string of podium finishes.
A success that leaves Martín... conflicted. From my point of view, it was a difficult situation because I was in conflict with Aprilia. On the one hand, it was good that Aprilia was performing well, and that motivated me for my return. »
« But on the other hand, I was in conflict with them, and I didn't really like their success. »
At this moment, George Martin He even admits to having stopped following the races, needing to completely disconnect during his convalescence.
Looking back, one's perspective changes. Bezzecchi signe nine podiums in 2025, including three victories, and proves that the RS-GP has real potential.
Martín finally admitted it. Now, it's certain, I can see that it was an excellent thing.I feel really good at Aprilia and proud to be an Aprilia rider. I'm glad Massimo Rivola kept me on and that in the end we have progressed together in the right direction »
2025 will remain a blank year in terms of results for George MartinBut it will have served as a revealer: regarding the solidity ofAprilia, on the value of the project, and on the difficulty of leaving the summit without getting burned.
The rift wasn't just physical. It was mental, political, and emotional. It remains to be seen whether this belated reconciliation will allow Martin to become, in 2026, the conquering driver who won the world title MotoGP one year earlier.
