The Assen Grand Prix, the scene of major battles on the track, was also the setting for a verbal tug-of-war behind the scenes. At the heart of the storm: Jorge Martin, his manager Albert Valera, Aprilia and Dorna, the championship organizer... And a forgotten precedent: Maverick Viñales!
Albert Valera chose Assen to publicly state that its pilot was "free" from any contractual commitment with Aprilia. A shocking statement, that Dorna rushed to reframe. The organizer recalled that " no pilot having broken his unilat contractusually without mutual agreement " could not be engaged elsewhere.
For Ricard Jové, a former manager involved in the paddock, however, the situation is nothing new. He recalls a similar episode:
« En 2012When Maverick Viñales refusedto get on the motorcycle as a sign of rrebellion and wanted to break unilatfinally his contract, we explained to himthat, since'he had a contract not only for 2012, but also for 2013, he could not be registered in another team that she signed an agreementpossible with lteam with which he was. Otherwise, itthere was no chance that'it's registered. Frankly, who believes that itis it new? It always has ofis like that. »
« Valera and Martin were trying to'empfishfailure of the nnegotiations, which were at a standstill »
Jové believes that the current media coverage is more of a maneuver than a real regulatory innovation:
« What surprises me, cis that all these dstatements have ofwere made public in the mannerera of which Valera l'did. It is clear to me that the motivation is'express that the pilot is free, according to him. Why? To try to'get offers from Honda and its partners, whichthey don'thave not done, because the gentleman's agreement was respecté. »
According to Jové, the strategy of Valera and Martin could well turn against them:
« They were trying to'empfishfailure of the nnegotiations, which were at a standstill. Broadcast all of this with the'arrivedLiberty Island'East, in my opinion, not a good strategyand I think that led to something'printseen; c'is an escalation of dstatements which, in my opinion, will to theagainst theValera and the pilot's initial intention. »
For the time being, the future of George Martin remains suspended from these tensions. His return to competition is hoped for Brno, but the legal battle with Aprilia could drag on further – and delay its plans MotoGP for 2026.
