Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola described Jorge Martin’s sensational Le Mans victory as a “big reward” for both rider and team after the explosive contract saga that threatened to split them apart just a year ago.
Rivola admitted his mind immediately went back to the dramatic events of the previous Le Mans weekend, when an injured Martin privately informed Aprilia that he intended to activate an exit clause and walk away from the project at the end of the season.
At the time, Aprilia firmly rejected the move, arguing the clause was invalid due to Martin’s long injury absence. Despite growing tension, the Italian manufacturer remained convinced the partnership could still succeed.
Now, one year later, that faith has been emphatically rewarded.
After enduring another difficult spell with injuries — including setbacks at Motegi and corrective surgery during the winter — Martin has finally begun delivering the performances Aprilia expected when they signed the reigning MotoGP world champion.
The Spaniard’s breakthrough reached a new level at French Motorcycle Grand Prix, where he completed a flawless weekend by winning both the Sprint and Sunday’s grand prix.
Reflecting on the emotional turnaround, Rivola said the victory felt especially meaningful considering how close the relationship had come to collapsing 12 months earlier. He described the result as proof that both Martin and Aprilia made the right decision to stay together.
