Moto GP
Jorge Martin Secures Aprilia Move for MotoGP 2025 After Ducati’s Marquez Gamble
Breaking News: Jorge Martin to Team Up with Aprilia in MotoGP 2025!
MotoGP frontrunner Jorge Martin has signed with Aprilia for the 2025 season, paving the path for Marc Marquez to team up with Francesco Bagnaia at Ducati.
Following recent news that Marc Marquez has secured the 2025 Ducati team position, previously held by championship frontrunner Jorge Martin, Aprilia has now confirmed that Martin will be taking over Aleix Espargaro's spot on the team in the upcoming season, as Espargaro plans to retire.
Martin has inked a long-term agreement with Aprilia, a deal that was quickly finalized following discussions with Piaggio's leader Michele Colaninno on Sunday evening.
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"Jorge represents an essential component in our journey towards achieving the ambitious targets we've set at Aprilia Racing, a journey marked by relentless progression," Massimo Rivola, the CEO of Aprilia Racing, expressed.
"We're grateful to Dr. Michele Colaninno for the chance he gave us. We had a discussion just yesterday, and promptly, we reached a decision."
The story caps off an eventful weekend at Mugello for Martin, who has been with Pramac since he entered MotoGP in 2021 and has now been passed over for the Ducati factory seat for the second time.
Before the Mugello weekend began, there was speculation that Martin might join Francesco Bagnaia as his future teammate at Ducati. However, this speculation was unexpectedly disrupted when Marquez turned down the chance to switch from Gresini to Martin's factory-spec motorcycle at Pramac, catching Ducati off guard.
Concerned about the possibility of losing the eight-time world champion for good, Ducati appears to have made a significant reversal in their decision, opting to let go of Martin and Enea Bastianini, who is Bagnaia's current team-mate, in order to retain Marquez.
Martin had consistently stated his unwillingness to stay with Ducati in a satellite team role, leading him to join Aprilia.
There is uncertainty about whether Martin was formally notified that he wouldn't secure the 2025 factory Ducati position, or if he grew impatient and decided to take action himself.
The news of Martin joining Aprilia was shared through a brief video on social media, which also included Espargaro, suggesting the agreement was reached unexpectedly and at the eleventh hour.
The promising Spanish rider is currently ahead of the defending two-time champion Bagnaia by 18 points. Should he maintain his lead and become the inaugural satellite MotoGP champion, he might bring the prestigious #1 plate to Aprilia in the upcoming season.
Martin's decision essentially guarantees that Marc Marquez will join Ducati as an official rider in 2025, bringing the #93 back to the premier factory level he experienced with Repsol Honda, following his noteworthy performances in seven races on last year's Gresini GP23 model.
Bastianini is rumored to be moving to GASGAS Tech3, and Pramac's path forward is unclear once more after missing out on both Martin and Marquez, making Yamaha's satellite proposition possibly more appealing.
Vinales, who presently teams up with Espargaro at Aprilia, has not yet secured a contract for 2025.
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