On Monday night, it was introduced that Martin will depart the Ducati fold after 4 seasons and transfer to Aprilia in 2025, changing the retiring Aleix Espargaro on a multi-year deal.
It adopted a collection of occasions over the previous week at Mugello, because the Spaniard went from being chosen for the manufacturing unit Ducati seat to having that experience snatched away from him.
On Saturday afternoon, a member of Ducati requested Martin for time to discover a technique to hold each him and Gresini’s Marc Marquez in its roster for 2025.
However Martin refused to provide Ducati any extra time, prompting the Borgo Panigale marque to tell his supervisor that it was withdrawing the provide for him to affix the manufacturing unit staff.
Martin and his agent met instantly afterwards and determined to simply accept one of many three provides on the desk, electing to maneuver to Aprilia on a two-year contract.
The deal between the 2 events was signed on Monday, with Aprilia subsequently asserting the settlement in a brief video the place Espargaro welcomed his substitute Martin to the staff.
Later within the afternoon, Rivola spoke to the media to precise his “monumental satisfaction” at having closed the cope with a “prime rider” in MotoGP.
Whereas it may very well be interpreted that Martin made a hasty choice to affix Aprilia following disagreement with Ducati, whose actions have been dictated by the concern of dropping six-time champion Marquez, Rivola insists the Spaniard’s choice was well-thought.
Jorge Martin, Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing
Picture by: Aprilia Racing
“It is a query we must always ask Jorge,” he mentioned. “I can solely say that I am very glad he took it, and if he is offended he may be a tenth quicker nonetheless subsequent yr.
‘It is a query we must always ask Jorge. I can solely say that I’m very pleased that he has taken it, and if he’s offended it’s doable that he will probably be a tenth quicker subsequent yr,” he mentioned.
I do not know, however I can actually say that I’ve seen Jorge pleased, very pleased. Perhaps in his head it wasn’t clear that he needed to decide, however he made it.
“I noticed Jorge pleased, and I noticed Aleix excited and pleased to welcome him. I feel it was a second during which Jorge made an vital choice and took a weight off his shoulders. I wish to assume that Jorge has decided and that he will probably be pleased that he has made it.”
For former Ferrari System 1 engineer Rivola, signing the present championship chief was a chance that it couldn’t afford to lose.
“The reality is that I did not think about {that a} rider like Jorge was going to be free in the marketplace. Once I began to see what Ducati was doing and that the chance got here up, we took it instantly,” he mentioned.
Rivola revealed that Aprilia began engaged on recruiting Martin after it grew to become clear on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix that its long-time rider Espargaro was going to drag the curtain down on his premier class profession on the finish of 2024.
“When Aleix instructed us in Barcelona that he’s retiring on the finish of the season, we began to take an curiosity within the prospects,” he mentioned.
“Certainly my strikes have motivated others to make choices, as first they mentioned they have been going to announce it in Mugello, then they mentioned they weren’t.
“We tailored to Aleix’s choice, which was to be in Italy however he needed to do it at residence and we introduced it ahead, and I’ve to say that it was fortunate, as a result of that advance is what allowed us to start out speaking to Jorge, and seeing him so motivated and pleased to signal for us makes us very pleased too.”
Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing
Picture by: MotoGP
It stays unclear if Aprilia will signal a recent contract with Maverick Vinales and hold him within the manufacturing unit staff for 2025 or search for alternate choices within the rider market.
Vinales’ current deal is because of expire this season.
“I additionally take into account Maverick to be a prime rider, and to have a pairing with the 2 of them, for me, could be the strongest pairing within the championship,” he mentioned.
“However you may’t at all times have what you need. At this time we have been introduced with the chance to signal Martin and we took it on the fly, with velocity and dedication. The quickest contract in historical past.
“Certainly of all of the provides Jorge had, ours, though respectable, was in all probability not the very best, however the high quality of the staff and the work we’re doing and the work that Aleix has spoken to him about has satisfied him.”
