Why Martin vs Aprilia conflict will have no easy resolution

Fabio Quartararo has called for more consistency and better alignment with regard to push-starting MotoGP bikes following his clash with marshals at the recent French Grand Prix.Despite his status as home hero at Le Mans, Quartararo’s race ended when he could not convince two marshals to agree to bump-start his Yamaha after his crash on lap four.Speaking to media ahead of this ...Keep reading

Ducati racer Francesco Bagnaia waded into the Aprilia team's contract dispute with Jorge Martin, by telling the MotoGP world champion he should “respect” his contract with the team.Motorsport.com exclusively revealed that Martin wanted to invoke a break clause in his contract to be released from the second year of his deal, which would mean that he could leave the Aprilia outfit at the end ...Keep reading

Aprilia has stood firm over Jorge Martin’s push to be released from his contract early and expects the defending MotoGP world champion to remain at the team at least until the end of 2026, it has said in a statement.The Italian manufacturer has remained silent on the matter since Autosport exclusively revealed Martin intended to invoke a clause in his contract to be released from the second ...Keep reading

Aprilia has stood firm over Jorge Martin’s push to be released from his contract early and expects the defending MotoGP world champion to remain at the team at least until the end of 2026, it has said in a statement.The Italian manufacturer has remained silent on the matter since Motorsport.com exclusively revealed Martin intended to invoke a clause in his contract to be released from the ...Keep reading

Star MotoGP rookie Fermin Aldeguer is targeting a factory Ducati ride for 2027 but admits to being surprised to have already scored a maiden podium.The Spaniard celebrated his first podium in the premier class two weeks ago at Le Mans, in just his sixth MotoGP Grand Prix.However, it was a result that had been building for some time, as the Gresini rider had already impressed with a fifth ...Keep reading

Star MotoGP rookie Fermin Aldeguer is targeting a factory Ducati ride for 2027 but admits to being surprised to have already scored a maiden podium.The Spaniard celebrated his first podium in the premier class two weeks ago at Le Mans, in just his sixth MotoGP Grand Prix.However, it was a result that had been building for some time, as the Gresini rider had already impressed with a fifth ...Keep reading

Following the news that Jorge Martin intends to leave Aprilia at the end of the year, Albert Valera, the Spaniard’s agent, has become the name on everyone’s lips in the MotoGP paddock. But who is the man holding the keys to shake up the MotoGP rider market?At 40 years old, this native of the Maresme region – a coastal area north of Barcelona – looks after the interests of both Jorge ...Keep reading

Following the news that Jorge Martin intends to leave Aprilia at the end of the year, Albert Valera, the Spaniard’s agent, has become the name on everyone’s lips in the MotoGP paddock. But who is the man holding the keys to shake up the MotoGP rider market?At 40 years old, this native of the Maresme region - a coastal area north of Barcelona - looks after the interests of both Jorge Martin ...Keep reading

Eighteenth overall in the MotoGP world championship with only 15 points, Raul Fernandez endured his fair share of criticism in the early part of the 2025 season.While the Spaniard is guaranteed a 2026 contract with independent Aprilia team Trackhouse, some have questioned whether his place on the grid is justified at all.But the 24-year-old managed to silence his critics – temporarily at ...Keep reading

Fabio Quartararo’s frustration boiled over again at Le Mans after crashing out of the French Grand Prix, leading to a confrontation with track marshals - his second in as many race weekends – which resulted in a penalty to be served at the next round at Silverstone.The Frenchman seemed poised for a potential podium challenge at his home race, especially given the progress Yamaha appears to ...Keep reading

Winner: Johann Zarco Johann Zarco, Team LCR HondaPhoto by: MotoGPJust when it looked like his early-season smiles were beginning to fade – all the more so after qualifying down in a distinctly unpromising 11th – Johann Zarco produced one of the most memorable victories MotoGP has seen in years.As Alex Marquez learned at Jerez two weeks earlier, winding down the laps ...Keep reading

Francesco Bagnaia dubbed the French Grand Prix as “a race and a weekend to truly forget” after he crashed on the opening lap before coming home in 16th.Starting from sixth on the grid, the two-time MotoGP champion collided with Enea Bastianini at the first chicane of lap one, in turn taking out Joan Mir.Bagnaia was able to get going again and came in for a change of bike, but it was a ...Keep reading

Le Mans has a long history of chaotic, mixed-weather MotoGP races. In the old days, red flags would have been central to the story. More recently, such as when Jack Miller won in 2021, flag-to-flag rules have made frantic mid-race bike changes possible. The 2025 French GP, however, had both.Weave in multiple strategies and a slew of double long lap penalties being served semi-simultaneously ...Keep reading

Jorge Martin intends to leave Aprilia at the end of this season, invoking a clause in his contract that releases him from the second year in 2026 if he is not among the top riders in the world championship standings after the French Grand Prix, Autosport has learned.The agreement signed by Aprilia and the reigning world champion last year at the Italian GP currently holds no binding effect for ...Keep reading

Marc Marquez has highlighted the importance of his steady ride to second at the tricky French Grand Prix after the result delivered him a substantial lead in the MotoGP standings.The six-time champion started Sunday’s grand prix just two points ahead of his brother Alex – the pair had traded narrow leads ever since Marc’s fall at the Americas GP in March.But with Alex crashing from ...Keep reading

French Grand Prix winner Johann Zarco believes his surprise victory at Le Mans will help his quest to step up from LCR to the factory Honda team in MotoGP 2026.Zarco spoke earlier in the weekend about his desire to become a factory rider, even as his LCR boss Lucio Cecchinello remarked that there was “no point” in his star rider leaving the satellite squad. Asked in the press ...Keep reading

Johann Zarco scored a sensational and emotional victory in a chaotic, mixed-weather edition of his home MotoGP French Grand Prix.While the LCR Honda rider streaked to victory by almost 20 seconds on a bizarre day at Le Mans, factory Ducati star Marc Marquez consolidated his championship lead with a steady second place.The six-time champion’s chief title rivals, Alex Marquez and Francesco ...Keep reading

Last year, Porsche arrived at Le Mans as one of the favourites, riding the momentum of a strong start to its WEC campaign. But when it came down to it, the real fight was between Ferrari and Toyota. In 2025, the German manufacturer comes to La Sarthe in a very different situation, after a quiet opening trio of races.What Porsche needs to lean on, if it’s to chase what would be a ...Keep reading