Jorge Martin has defended his decision to join Yamaha for the 2027 MotoGP season, insisting he has no regrets about making another bold career move despite the Japanese manufacturer’s current struggles.
The reigning championship leader is preparing to leave Aprilia at the end of 2026 and join Yamaha, a team that currently sits near the bottom of the MotoGP standings. The move has raised plenty of questions, particularly with Aprilia now fighting at the front of the championship while Yamaha continues to search for a breakthrough.
However, Martin believes the criticism surrounding his decision is nothing new.
The 28-year-old pointed to his decision to join Aprilia in 2025 as an example. At the time, many questioned why he would leave the Ducati camp for a manufacturer that had struggled to consistently challenge for wins.
Martin said he made that decision under very different circumstances, while his move to Yamaha was made with considerably more time and thought.
“I believe that in life you have to make certain decisions,” Martin told DAZN.
“In 2024, I had to make a decision in a hurry. Now I’ve had the chance to make another decision more calmly, with more time.”
Martin added that his career choices have always been based on what he believes is best for himself and his family.
He also recalled the doubts surrounding his move to Aprilia, which has since developed into one of the strongest packages on the MotoGP grid.
Source: Cycle News
“Just like when I signed for Aprilia, it was a disaster. Where was I going with an Aprilia, a team that had never won?” Martin said.
“And yet here I am, leading the championship. Next year or in two years’ time, let the world and the public say what they will.”
Aprilia’s rise has strengthened Martin’s argument. When he signed with the Italian manufacturer during his title-winning 2024 campaign, Aprilia had struggled for consistency and recorded only one victory that season.
Since then, the team has made major progress and is now challenging Ducati for the 2026 championship.
Martin has also recovered from an injury-hit 2025 season to return to the title fight, making his upcoming departure from Aprilia an increasingly significant storyline.
Despite their difficult relationship last year, Martin said his connection with Aprilia has improved and that both sides are now focused on finishing the current campaign strongly.
He credited technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini for helping him rediscover his best form, saying he remains confident in the team’s commitment to helping him fight for the title.
Martin said Sterlacchini had told him earlier this year that he wanted to bring back the version of the rider who dominated in 2024.
According to Martin, the approach has worked, and he expects that support to continue until their partnership officially ends.
The relationship between Martin and Aprilia deteriorated last year when the Spaniard attempted to leave his contract while recovering from a series of injuries. Legal disputes followed, but the two sides have since worked to repair their relationship.
Martin believes they have now moved beyond that period.
“We don’t have to be friends either. They want to win; I want to win,” he said.
“The important thing is that we’re clear about our roles and pull in the same direction.”
With Martin set to depart and Marco Bezzecchi becoming Aprilia’s long-term focus, the Spaniard’s immediate priority is clear: make the most of his final season with the team and challenge for the 2026 MotoGP title.
Only time will tell whether his Yamaha switch becomes another career-defining gamble that silences the doubters, just as his move to Aprilia ultimately did.
