All We Know About the Jorge Martin MotoGP Contract Drama
MotoGP champion Jorge Martin could split from Aprilia just months after signing. Here’s the full story behind the contract clause, his injuries, and the factory fallout.
After a bruising weekend in France that left him point-less for the first time this season, Francesco Bagnaia has turned to familiar ground – both mentally and physically – to reset before Silverstone.
The defending champion had a nightmare at Le Mans, crashing out of both the sprint and the Grand Prix itself.
It was a rare double DNF for a rider who has built his recent success on consistency. Despite the setback, the damage in the standings wasn’t catastrophic.
Back in Italy, Bagnaia found the perfect tonic: a few laps on a Superbike at Mugello.
“I managed to get a Superbike training session done in Mugello. The conditions were glorious, and I was as happy as a little kid,” he said, before cheekily adding:
“And I had a perfect feeling with the front end of the bike!”
That jab wasn’t lost in translation – it was a nod to his ongoing struggle with front-end confidence on the GP25.
Bagnaia has made no secret of how critical that feeling is for his riding, and it clearly wasn’t there in France.
“Le Mans was very mixed. Saturday started off really well, but we all know how it ended,” he admitted.
“Still, we’re working hard and we have the right structure to improve things. At home, we put together a plan for Silverstone.”
“We’ll start with two different setups and work from there with the one that feels better.”
One storyline that wasn’t still lingering for Bagnaia was his collision with Enea Bastianini.
The KTM rider unintentionally wiped Bagnaia out in the Grand Prix, but the pair have already cleared the air.
“I spoke to Enea and everything’s fine. I don’t want to say it was completely unavoidable, but I think the situation played a big role – some riders were on slicks, others on wets.”
A look back at the race start crash 💥@johannzarco1 had to take avoiding action 🤯#FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/XCcw5ELAWc
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) May 11, 2025
“That makes a big difference in how people ride, and it’s easier for things to go wrong in those conditions.”
But the paddock conversation in Silverstone isn’t only about Le Mans. The other big topic is Jorge Martin’s collapsed Aprilia deal – and Bagnaia hasn’t held back when asked about the unfolding controversy.
The Ducati rider referred to Aprilia’s pointed statement, which made clear its disappointment over the Spaniard’s change of heart.
“My understanding is – if you enter into an agreement, then you should do everything to respect it. I can understand Aprilia’s position. It’s not right to break a contract.”
“If you give your word in a contract, then you have to stand by it. If you don’t, it creates chaos.”
Bagnaia also warned about the broader consequences of such high-profile contract drama.
“We live in a world now where situations like this, thanks to social media, lead to a lot of unpleasant speculation.”
He even drew on his own past to illustrate the importance of sticking to commitments.
“I’ve been in that situation myself. Of course, everyone wants the best for themselves, but you should still respect agreements – even if that means making a choice you wouldn’t otherwise want to make.”
“For me, it’s normal to do everything you can to fix problems. It’s like in a marriage – you have to stick with it!”
With the drama of Le Mans behind him and some off-track noise around others, Bagnaia’s focus is now fully on Silverstone – and with a few laps of Mugello still in his system, he’s hoping that front-end feeling stays with him all weekend.
