Why, is there nothing going on in motorsport to entertain the masses that you have to make something up ? Oh, hang on, I guess people who write articles for Motorsport consider themselves to be “journalists” Andy
Come from Mat Oxley and David Emmett. Not normally gossip merchants unless they have something to back it up.
Happy to eat humble pie in the event JM takes LM’s factory seat but I’ll hang on to my scepticism. If you believe half the rumours allegedly emanating around Honda’s future aspirations, they’ll have more riders on the grid than Ducati. Andy
Something about activating a Performance Clause. The story is on Crash Net. I know it is all speculation and gossip, but not really sure Jorge Martin is going to do great things at Aprilia - he must be so nervous of crashing every time he gets on the thing.
What’s mad is that it’s not the bike performance that’s the issue, it’s his mistake in two occasions that resulted in the ‘poor results’. I think if he does it, it’s really poor form. unless Aprilia are about to go pop and might not be on the grid next year, which is possible, a year ago we didn’t think KTM would be in this situation
im wondering if he’s unhappy at the way his injuries were handled. who knows but it’s defo a thing . Talk of “the clause” being extended to September due to his inaction/absence on track.
My feeling is he knows he made a mistake signing for Aprilia in the first place. A heat of the moment decision when he didn’t get the factory ride he so wanted. Not saying he wants to be injured of course ,but in a way gives him a get out clause he needs. He’s a very fast rider and deserved champion but I think his ship has sailed looking forward no matter where he ends up.
Confirmed he wants to leave at the end of the season https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1...confirms-intentions-leave-aprilia-motogp-team
Maybe not so shabby then. Some contractual shenanigans going on but there are two parties to any contract and both signed it happily enough.
He will have barely ridden a bike in a year and now comes with a “bit of a reputation”. He might find he’s not as desirable as he was when he was negotiating with Aprilia 12 months ago or so. Who needs/wants that kind of grief?
Medical update, https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2025/06/03/martin-undergoes-fairly-positive-medical-check-up/751359 but after all the to-ing and fro-ing, seems a little facile. Andy
