MotoGP: Neil Hodgson 'can't blame Jorge Martin' for ripping up Aprilia deal early - 'He's had nothing but bad luck'

Neil Hodgson says he "can’t blame Jorge Martin" for deciding to end his contract with Aprilia early after an injury-hit MotoGP season for the reigning world champion.

The Spaniard joined Aprilia after being crowned champion for the first time last year, but has been prevented from defending his crown after featuring in just one race so far in 2025.

Last week, Martin announced his decision to leave his team at the end of the year, midway through a two-year deal, after triggering a contract clause.

Honda have been linked with a move for the 27-year-old, who set a record for points in a single season last year by racking up 504 to pip Francesco Bagnaia to the crown.  

"I can’t blame Jorge Martin. It’s a short career," Hodgson said on TNT Sports' coverage of Grand Prix Aragon.

"He’s had nothing but bad luck on the Aprilia. All of a sudden now, if you look at the manufacturers, Honda for example, there is a ride available in the factory team. Honda have made a huge step.

"It’s the biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. We’ve got big rule changes coming up. They’ve got some really experienced people working for them.

"If I was Jorge Martin now, I would think, well, I could ride the Honda, I might go in that direction."

Martin missed the start of the 2025 MotoGP campaign with a serious wrist injury sustained in pre-season.

He returned for the Grand Prix Qatar in round four but suffered another nasty crash that left him with a collapsed lung and 11 broken ribs, and he has been unable to race since.

Hodgson gave a step-by-step account of how Martin and Aprilia got to this point after a complicated season for the Spanish rider and his team.

"I’m Jorge Martin. I’ve won the MotoGP world championship for Ducati. I wanted to be on the factory Ducati for this season. That opportunity went by during the Mugello GP," Hodgson said.

"Then quickly I wanted a plan B. I wanted to be a factory rider; I didn’t want to ride for any satellite team. I looked at my opportunities, I looked at the manufacturers. My best opportunity was Aprilia. My management had already started conversations with Aprilia, because that would’ve already been going on. It won’t have gone from 0 to 100; there will have been chats.

"As soon as I found out I couldn’t ride the factory Ducati this year, I said to my management, let’s go with Aprilia. During those discussions and agreements in a really short period of time, what I’ve managed to get added to the contract is that it’s a two-year deal, but I want a clause where at a certain date - which it sounds like was around Le Mans time - that if I’m not happy, and I’ve not gelled with the bike, and my performances are not where I want to be, then I can exit this two-year contract.

"That is essentially what’s happened. That’s been signed by myself – I’m Jorge Martin, remember – and the team. Those are the facts. That’s what has happened.

"So, we’ve got to Le Mans, I’ve not completed a race due to injury and I’ve said to Aprilia: look, we’ve got this clause in the contract, obviously I’ve not raced, so I want more time to evaluate the bike. Can we move this date on? If you can, and I can evaluate the bike, then I’ll know if I want to continue for 2026.

"According to what Jorge Martin is saying, Aprilia have said no, that is the contract. We need to know now. Let us know, now or never. They have forced Jorge Martin’s hand, and he’s gone, okay, if you’re not going to give me any time to evaluate the bike, I’m going to say I don’t want to ride it next year."

The MotoGP season continues this weekend with the Grand Prix Aragon, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

The Sprint race starts at 14:00 UK time on Saturday, June 7, before lights out at the Grand Prix on Sunday, June 8 at 13:00 UK time.