Aprilia has announced that it has signed Jorge Martin for the 2025 MotoGP season amid reports that Marc Marquez has secured the coveted factory Ducati position.
Martin has been intent on riding with a works team next season and Italian reports published last weekend that Ducati had chosen him to partner Francesco Bagnaia.
However, Marc Marquez disclosed at Mugello that the Pramac ride Martin will vacate was not an option, prompting Ducati to enact an apparent reversal on its choice.
Marquez has excelled since leaving Honda on a year-old Gresini Ducati bike in 2024 and the Italian marque is thought to have been against losing his prized services.
Aprilia proceeded to accelerate talks with Martin to pounce on Ducati retracting its proposal to acquire the current MotoGP championship leader on a multi-term deal.
“A path of unstoppable growth, Jorge is a building block to reach the goal we are all looking for with great hunger at Aprilia Racing,” Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO said.
“Thanks to Dr. Michele Colaninno for this opportunity, we spoke last night and without wasting any time we made the decision.”
Martin will replace Aleix Espargaro, who will retire from MotoGP at the end of the current campaign and has been touted to take up a testing role with Honda from 2025.
The Spaniard finished as championship runner-up to Bagnaia last season and leads the standings in 2024 with two victories and two Sprint wins in the first six rounds.
Martin’s decision to pen a deal with Aprilia has all but certified Marquez will be confirmed as a Ducati rider soon, with Enea Bastianini needing to find a seat elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Maverick Vinales rubbished reports that he had penned a renewal with Aprilia, citing that Rivola’s comments to the Spanish media had been mistranslated.
