MANTUA It seemed like a dream, but the awakening lived up to expectations: Jorge Martin will be at the helm of Aprilia in the world championship from 2005. The contract, requested by Michele Colaninno, CEO of the Piaggio group, was formalized the other evening, immediately after the Mugello GP. The official announcement was rejected yesterday by the agencies, causing an earthquake in the world of MotoGP which had been awaiting the “formal” results of the “informal” announcements from the top riders for weeks. “I want the official bike of a factory,” said Martin, top rider of the Pramac-Ducati team, three weeks ago, but without specifying which factory. At the same time, multiple world champion Marc Marquez had also expressed his desire to move to a factory team, regardless of “the color and the engine”.
Today, after Sunday’s Mugello race, the issues have been resolved: Gigi Dall’Igna’s reserves seem to have dissolved, and Marquez will race with the 2025 red Borgo Panigale, alongside the reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia. Martin, on the other hand, will make the switch from Pramac’s “satellite” Ducati to Noale’s Aprilia. He will take the place of Aleix Espargarò, Jorge’s close friend, who just a week ago announced his retirement from racing at the end of the season.
Aleix himself had declared that Aprilia has now become a “winning” bike, and that to take it to the top a champion would be needed. Well, that champion has arrived.
«Jorge Martin was our first choice, but initially I didn’t even think he was on the market» declared the CEO. of Aprilia Massimo Rivola who announced the hiring of Jorge. «In Barcelona – he continued – after Espargarò announced his retirement, I started acting like a “truffle dog” and then we drew conclusions. Honestly, I didn’t believe that this possibility really existed, but seeing Jorge so motivated now makes me very happy and having him together with Maverick Vinales (a rider who, however, has not yet decided whether to renew with Aprilia, having had an attractive offer from Honda, nrd) for me it would be the strongest couple in the championship. I only regret not being able to talk to Maverick before he broke the news, but he was driving so it was impossible to tell him. Today we had the opportunity to close an important piece and we grabbed it immediately, it was the fastest contract in history. I think that yesterday after such an emotional race, Martin understood that his future was no longer there and he wanted to find the best possible situation. My movement probably stimulated someone else to make decisions a little faster. Ours was certainly not the highest offer that Jorge had in front of him, even if super-respectable, but the fact that he chose us is a reason for pride”, concluded Rivola.
In short, an «unstoppable path of growth», Rivola further underlined, «and Jorge is a piece to reach the goal that we are all eagerly seeking in Aprilia Racing. Thanks to Dr. Michele Colaninno for this opportunity, we spoke last night and without wasting time we decided”, concluded the CEO from Noale.
Even for Mantua this is an unexpected surprise. Martin, born in 1998, is undoubtedly among the most extraordinary talents expressed by motorsport in the premier class, and is currently at the top of the world GP rankings with 171 points, against Bagnaia’s 153 and Marquez’s 136. His palmares sees him largely dominate in the sprint races. Last year, again for the same Pramac team, he became one of the protagonists of the season as Bagnaia’s rival for the title, with whom he fought until the last GP of the season, in Valencia.
