By Harry Freemantle

Following his maiden premiere class title, Jorge Martin departs the Ducati family and heads off to Aprilia.

Martin joined the Pramac Racing Ducati team in 2021 and has been their since.

This came about following Ducati’s decision to promote 8-time World Champion, Marc Marquez to the factory team over Martin announced back in June this year.

As Pramac are moving to Yamaha, it left Martin in limbo, however following the retirement of Aleix Espargaro, Martin joined the factory Aprilia team.

However, questions may arise given that Martin won the championship this year yet he is the rider that is departing. Context must be applied when Ducati made this decision.

Francesco Bagnaia is already a 3x World Champion with 2 premiere class titles at the Ducati Lenovo team. Bagnaia not only provided history but security given that he won 11 Grand Prix on the 2024 season still showing immense pace throughout despite his mistakes.

Pecco also is an Italian rider, a strong appeal with Ducati which is an Italian manufacturer.

With reasons such as above, there is no reason for Bagnaia not to be at Ducati for 2025 onwards.

Although for the other seat at Ducati, with the expected departure for Enea Bastianini who has underperformed from what was expected, Martin was the strong contender for it following a title fight 2023 season and leading the 2024 championship at that point of the season.

However, a coup was in play for Ducati as Honda was drastically off the pace which lead to the face of Honda for over a decade and all time legend, Marc Marquez looking elsewhere.

Ducati took advantage and signed him to the Gresini team. Gresini in MotoGP get Ducati machinery however the bike they get is from the previous year.

Despite that, Marc Marquez was consistently fighting at the front with the factory bike riders putting the bike in places it did not belong which lead to the Spaniard winning three races in 2024.

Ducati Corse Manager, Gigi Dall’Igna has been a long-term admirer of Marquez,

In an interview with AS, Marc Marquez stated: “I am in Ducati because of Gigi Dall’Igna. He is the engineer who has won what he has touched.

“One of the phrases that I say to him when we started talking is: ‘For me the most important thing about ‘25 and ‘26 is that you are still at Ducati, right?”

With the possibility of them pairing up, Ducati could not say no.

Jorge Martin will get the opportunity of a factory ride, but somewhere else. Martin can establish himself as one of the best leading Aprilia to their first MotoGP title.