P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aprilia denies Jorge Martin MotoGP contract break talks, wards off admirers
The Aprilia MotoGP team released their first official statement on speculations about Jorge Martin possibly leaving his contract for 2026, refuting any discussions on the matter. Following the French Grand Prix, reports surfaced suggesting that Jorge Martin, the reigning world champion, was considering ending his association with Aprilia by the end of the year. Allegedly, Martin wanted to trigger a contract clause related to the competitiveness of the Aprilia by the French GP, a clause he felt uncertain about due to limited bike time this season. Despite various injury setbacks causing him to miss races and likely sidelined until at least the German Grand Prix in July, Martin was rumored to have extended the deadline for the performance clause to September and was linked to a potential move to the factory Honda team. Aprilia responded to the reports ahead of the British Grand Prix, affirming the validity and full honoring of their contract with Jorge Martin until its expiry in 2026, and denying any talks of altering the contract duration. The team emphasized their support for Martin’s recovery and their anticipation of his return to the track with the RS-GP, with test rider Lorenzo Savadori continuing to substitute for him at Silverstone this weekend, a circuit where Aprilia achieved their first MotoGP podium in 2021 and where Aleix Espargaro secured a victory for the team in 2023.
