Jorge Martín Defends Bold Yamaha Move Amid Doubters: “They Said Joining Aprilia Would Be a Disaster”
Jorge Martín remains steadfast in his decision to join the official YamahaMotoGP team in 2027, dismissing critics who questioned his previous move to Aprilia two years ago.
The Spanish rider, who currently races for Aprilia, will switch from the championship-leading brand to Yamaha, which has struggled consistently since its 2021 title with Fabio Quartararo. Despite Yamaha’s recent shift to a V4 engine this season, the team has failed to close the gap to the frontrunners, prompting Quartararo’s departure to Honda. Yet Martín remains unfazed by skepticism surrounding his upcoming switch.
“I think in life you have to make certain decisions,” Martín told DAZN. “In 2024, I had to decide quickly. Now, I’ve had the chance to think calmly and take my time. I always make choices thinking about what’s best for me and my family, and I believe this is the best one.” Reflecting on his Aprilia signing, he added, “Just like when I signed for Aprilia – people said it would be a disaster; where was I going with Aprilia, a team that had never won? Yet here I am, leading the championship. Next year or the year after, let the world and the public say what they want.”
Martín’s relationship with Aprilia has been complex but productive. He signed a two-year contract with the Noale manufacturer mid-2024 after Ducati declined to promote him to their factory team. At that time, Aprilia struggled for consistency, with Maverick Viñales’ win at the Grand Prix of the Americas standing out as a rare highlight in a difficult season. Since then, Aprilia has significantly closed the gap to Ducati’s dominance, now locked in a fierce championship battle for 2026. Martín, 28, recovered from a challenging 2025 plagued by injuries to rejoin the title fight.
Highlighting his strong bond with Aprilia’s technical director Fabiano Steralacchini, Martín revealed, “It will be a fair competition. I trust Fabiano. I see he’s doing everything possible to help me improve. At the start of the year, he came to Andorra and told me: ‘I want to get back that 2024 Jorge; I want to bring out all that talent again.’ Largely, he has succeeded. I’m sure he will keep doing so and help me improve until the last day we are together.”
Despite a near-breakdown in their relationship last year amid Martín’s injury struggles and contract termination attempts, the rider and Aprilia have patched things up. With Martín’s departure confirmed for the end of 2026, Aprilia’s long-term future now rests with Marco Bezzecchi. “Our relationship is back on track now that the title fight is heating up,” Martín stated. “We don’t have to be friends. They want to win; I want to win. The important thing is that we understand our roles and pull in the same direction. None of us wants to fight.”
Martín concluded by emphasizing the progress in their rapport: “Considering everything that happened – legal battles and all – being able to sit down for dinner together, getting along, and taking my team to Ibiza for two days shows we have really got our relationship back on track.”
Jorge Martín’s confident stance on his Yamaha move and his resilient partnership with Aprilia set the stage for a gripping final chapter in the 1000cc era of MotoGP.