Aprilia’s internal affairs suddenly exploded after a TENSE DISPUTE between British GP champion Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin left the Aprilia boss completely helpless !! 👇👇

The MotoGP paddock is no stranger to drama, but the recent flare-up within Aprilia Racing has sent shockwaves through the sport. At the heart of the storm is a heated dispute between reigning British Grand Prix champion Marco Bezzecchi and 2024 MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin, a conflict that has left Aprilia’s team principal, Massimo Rivola, scrambling to maintain control. The tension, rooted in Martin’s desire to exit his contract early and Bezzecchi’s unexpected rise as Aprilia’s leading rider, has exposed deep cracks in the team’s unity, raising questions about its future in the 2025 season.

The saga began earlier this year when Jorge Martin, fresh off his 2024 championship triumph, joined Aprilia with high expectations. However, his season was derailed by a series of injuries, starting with two pre-season testing crashes and culminating in a devastating accident at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he suffered 11 cracked ribs and a punctured lung. These injuries sidelined Martin for much of the season, forcing Aprilia to rely heavily on Bezzecchi and test rider Lorenzo Savadori. While Martin was absent, Bezzecchi stepped up, delivering a stunning victory at the British Grand Prix on May 25, 2025, Aprilia’s first win of the season. This triumph, however, became a flashpoint for the escalating drama.

Martin, still recovering, reportedly sought to exit his two-year contract with Aprilia, citing a performance clause that he believed allowed him to leave by the end of 2026. Aprilia, however, has taken a hardline stance, with Rivola warning rival teams like Honda of legal consequences should they attempt to poach Martin before his contract expires in 2027. The team’s management has argued that Martin’s limited participation—having competed in only one race this season—invalidates any performance-based exit clause. This contractual dispute has fueled frustration, with Martin reportedly reluctant to engage in a legal battle but equally determined to explore other options.

Bezzecchi’s success at Silverstone, where he outshone expectations by capitalizing on a chaotic race marked by a red flag and multiple retirements, has only complicated matters. His victory, the first for Aprilia since the 2023 Grand Prix of the Americas, underscored the potential of the RS-GP bike and shifted the spotlight onto him. Rivola seized the opportunity to send a pointed message to Martin, stating, “We have a bike with which he too can win,” emphasizing that the team’s machinery is competitive and that Martin’s struggles are not solely due to the bike’s performance. This public comment, intended to reassure Martin, instead appeared to deepen the rift, as it highlighted Bezzecchi’s ability to succeed where Martin had not.

Behind the scenes, Bezzecchi has maintained a diplomatic stance, focusing on his role within the team. He expressed pride in riding for Aprilia, despite acknowledging the bike’s stability issues, particularly in braking and acceleration. His adaptability and strong performances, including a sixth-place finish at the Thai Grand Prix and a fourth-place result in the Silverstone sprint race, have solidified his position as Aprilia’s top rider in Martin’s absence. However, Bezzecchi’s comments about Martin’s absence reveal a strained dynamic. While he has wished Martin a speedy recovery, he also noted the challenges of developing the RS-GP without the team’s star signing, hinting at underlying tensions from their past disagreements during their time as rivals.

The situation reached a boiling point at Aprilia’s All-Stars event on June 1, 2025, where Martin faced intense scrutiny from the media about his future. His reluctance to commit to Aprilia publicly, combined with Bezzecchi’s rising star status, has created a narrative of internal competition that Rivola seems unable to quell. Sources within the paddock suggest that Martin’s potential move to Honda, should Aprilia release him, is a significant concern for the team, which had pinned its hopes on the Spaniard as its championship contender. Meanwhile, Bezzecchi’s emergence as a reliable leader has shifted the team’s dynamics, with some speculating that Aprilia may prioritize him over Martin if the dispute escalates further.

For Rivola, the challenge is clear: unify a fractured team while navigating the legal and emotional complexities of Martin’s contract saga. Aprilia’s strong showing at Silverstone, coupled with Bezzecchi’s resilience, offers hope, but the team’s inability to resolve its internal conflicts could jeopardize its ambitions. As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes will be on Aprilia to see if it can harness its potential or if the clash between its two star riders will tear it apart. The MotoGP world waits anxiously to see how this high-stakes drama unfolds.