Marc Marquez has delivered his first public opinion on Jorge Martin’s decision to trigger an exit clause in his Aprilia contract — a week after holding off judgment until Martin shared his side of the story.
Speaking during a Ducati promotional event in Barcelona, Marquez acknowledged the situation:
“I’m aware of what’s going on in the world of MotoGP and when I read the news about Jorge Martin, well, he will have his reasons. He will have his explanations,” he said, as quoted by AS.
“Above all, let’s hope he recovers soon and have him on track as soon as possible.”
Just a week earlier at Silverstone, Marquez had declined to comment, stating that he wanted to wait for Martin or his team to speak out before making any assumptions. Martin has since confirmed his intention to leave Aprilia at the end of the 2024 season, one year earlier than scheduled.
Marquez himself left a high-value Honda contract early to join Gresini Ducati for 2024, though he emphasized his situation was different due to his injury-plagued seasons and long-term success with Honda.
“I think my situation was completely different,” he said. “We achieved six World Championships together with Honda.”
Unlike Marquez’s respectful split with Honda, Martin’s early exit from Aprilia has caused a stir in the MotoGP paddock and raised questions about rider commitment and contract integrity.
Reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia offered a sharply contrasting view to Marquez, stating that riders should honor their contracts — a comment interpreted by some as a subtle reaffirmation of his loyalty to Ducati amid whispers of Yamaha interest.
While Marquez and Bagnaia remain locked in at Ducati until the end of 2026, Martin’s situation continues to shake up the rider market, with Honda rumored as his next destination.
