TNT Sports
Honda 'is an option' for MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin, claims manager Albert Valera, as Aprilia contract dispute rumbles on
By
Published 28/06/2025 at 16:21 GMT+1
React to this story
Jorge Martin has managed to appear at just one Grand Prix weekend for current team Aprilia, with the world champion kept out of action because of a string of injuries. A contract dispute between the two parties has been reignited after Martin's manager, Albert Valera, insisted the rider is free to move to another team next season, with Aprilia again denying that is the case.
'Just dropped away from him' - Quartararo suffers another crash after starting on pole
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jorge Martin’s manager Albert Valera insists the Aprilia rider is free to leave and race for a new MotoGP team, with Honda "an option".
Speaking on Saturday to Moto GP, Valera was questioned about the contract dispute between the current world champion and his team.
It has been reported that Martin is allowed to break his contract if the team cannot produce a title-challenging bike, but the Spaniard has been absent for all but a single race for the outfit he joined only last year.
Aprilia, for their part, issued a statement, saying: "Our position has not changed since the press release issued on May 22. Aprilia Racing representatives won’t give any further comment on the matter."
Valera had his own view, stating: "What we can say is Jorge Martin is free of contract for 2026. It’s pretty clear for us, he’s executed a clause he had in the contract, and we’re just following the contract.
"He’s completely open, available, and we will see what happens in the future. He had a clause in the contract, he had a right to exercise that clause, and he did so.
"For the moment, we cannot talk about any third-party offers because it’s still maybe not the moment. We need to talk and understand other offers.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/06/27/image-0ab16e52-d467-4b2c-9278-c8780e367b22-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Look at Marc Marquez' - World championship leader bursts forward at Sprint start
Video credit: TNT Sports
"The first thing that we need to do is to make sure Jorge wants to execute that clause; he did it, he announced it in his statement.
"We deeply believe that he is free. From the moment that we defend Jorge’s freedom, we’re able to [talk] to other manufacturers. You ask me about Honda and that is an option for next year."
Valera added that Martin had been prepared to extend the clause, and accepted that Aprilia’s other rider, Marco Bezzecchi, had impressed, but that was not enough to fulfil the contract.
He explained: "We always wanted to extend the clause, in good faith; we thought that Aprilia and Jorge deserved a second chance and that was denied.
- 'Huge' Marquez crash could see 'aggressive' Bagnaia challenge in Netherlands
- 'Lucky' Marquez declared fit to ride after crashes
"No one can tell Jorge he is going to be fast on Aprilia, he needs to feel it himself, that was always what we defended because that was the spirit of what we negotiate.
"I know that Marco is doing a good job, and we believe that Jorge can do a good job. Jorge has a right, by contract, [and] needs to try the bike himself.
"We need to give him that confidence; if we don’t, we’re giving him the wrong message and no matter what happens, he’ll probably think about other destinations."
Stream every race of the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Advertisement
Advertisement