MotoGP Brno: Jorge Martin confirms that he will stay with Aprilia in 2026

Jorge Martin has confirmed that he will stay with Aprilia for the 2026 MotoGP season during a special press conference at Brno ahead of the Czech Grand Prix.

The reigning champion’s future has been unclear in recent weeks after a shock statement published by Martin on his social media accounts in May stated that he was exercising an performance-based clause in his two-year contract to leave Aprilia at the end of the season.

This sparked a war of words between Martin and Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola, with the latter strongly opposing the suggestion that Martin would leave. To Aprilia, it was never in doubt that Martin would be on the RS-GP next season.

“I want to explain everything that has happened, because it will be easier,” Martin said in the Czech Republic. “I think after my first, second and then third injury, everyone became more serious, and I had a lot of doubts.

“Not only around my future, but about myself, about a lot of different things. In that moment, I had to make a decision, that decision was to try with Aprilia for a few more races or activate this clause, which we all knew about.

“Aprilia denied it, which I respect; they were fighting for their rights. From that point, I had to fight for what I thought was best for me, which was to move on to another project. I could continue this fight further, but in life we have to make some decisions, and this decision is to stay here for one more season.”

Martin had been linked with a possible switch to Honda in 2026, a rumour which will no doubt now alternate to the 2027 regulations and the introduction of the new regulations and Pirelli tyres.

The Spaniard is making his comeback this weekend after missing the majority of the season with various injuries. Martin was officially passed fit at Brno on Thursday afternoon.

Martin missed the majority of pre-season testing after sustaining a fractured metacarpal in his right hand, as well as multiple fractures to the metatarsals in his left foot in a crash on day one of the Sepang Test in February.

He then fractured the radius in his left hand, as well as injuring his scaphoid bone, in a training accident whilst riding his supermoto bike.

Martin made his long awaited Aprilia debut at the Qatar Grand Prix, but suffered yet another injury when he crashed in the feature race. Martin was clipped by Fabio di Giannantonio after falling from his RS-GP, suffering 11 broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

Teammate Marco Bezzecchi secured victory at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in May, before celebrating a double podium at Assen.