The 26-year-old Spaniard has been a Ducati rider his entire MotoGP career, spending the last three and a half seasons with the factory-backed Pramac team. Negotiations were underway for Martín to join the prestigious Ducati Lenovo squad alongside reigning champion Pecco Bagnaia next year. However, a surprising turn of events led Martín to a two-year contract with Aprilia, a team that has garnered four victories since 2022.
The Ducati Lenovo team faced a tough decision: Martín, current teammate Enea Bastianini, or the legendary six-time MotoGP champion Marc Márquez. According to sources, Martín approached Aprilia after Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, securing a signed contract within 24 hours.
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola expressed his excitement about the swift acquisition. “The details are private, but the deal happened very quickly,” Rivola told MotoGP.com. “We signed at 5:30 pm and announced it at 6 pm. It was a fast decision, but I’m thrilled to have him on board.”
Multiple reports suggested that Marc Márquez might be headed to Ducati Lenovo in 2025. Last year, Martín was expected to join Bagnaia in the factory team, but Ducati opted for Bastianini instead. Aprilia, headquartered near Venice, seized the opportunity to sign the talented rider. Martín boasts an impressive record, including six Grand Prix wins and 12 Saturday Sprint victories.
“Signing Martín is a well-deserved reward for our constant pursuit of improvement,” Rivola stated. “We’re committed to competing with the top riders and manufacturers, and we’re delighted to have a rider of his calibre join us.” Martín replaced the retiring Aleix Espargaró on the Aprilia team. The identity of Martín’s teammate for next season remains unknown, with Maverick Viñales’ contract expiring at the end of 2024.