2025 will be Jorge Martin's first year as a full factory rider but, instead of joining Ducati with the number 1 on his fairing, his career as reigning world champion will continue with Aprilia, teaming up with Marco Bezzecchi. A reality that has come to fruition thanks to the work of Albert Valera, the Spanish rider's manager since before Jorge entered the world championship.
Valera spoke to our colleagues at Motorsport.com during the presentation of the bike at the Noale, also debunking the rumor that the obstacle preventing Martin from becoming Pecco Bagnaia's partner on the Ducati Factory was money. It all stemmed from an interview with Gigi Dall'igna.
"I sincerely think that Gigi didn't understand the question or that there was an error in the transcription of his words. At no time was money an issue in Ducati's decision. Dall'Igna knows it, Mauro Grassilli knows it, and everyone at Borgo Panigale knows it."
In the same interview, Dall'Igna supposedly also said that he thought Marquez was a better rider, which might have bothered Martìn.
"Like I said, we don't have an ego problem. When you have too much ego, it prevents you from seeing things clearly and sleeping well. It makes you waste time getting angry over comments like this. But if there's one rider who doesn't let these kinds of things affect him, it's Jorge, and that makes me relax. We're above these kinds of comments. When Ducati discarded us, Jorge's sentiment wasn't one of anger but of calmness, and that's what allowed him to face the rest of the season the way he did. Knowing where he was going to race in the next few years, that he would be happy, that his future was assured, and that it was over, for better or for worse, and his chapter with Ducati, were the real secret to the title he won in 2024."
2025 as an official rider will be a dream come true for Jorge.
"Jorge has always wanted to be an official rider. It's a dream come true. Obviously, there are differences. There was a great structure in Pramac, but a manufacturer is another story. The support and involvement he has found in Aprilia is very great and, along with Marco Bezzecchi, he feels like the cornerstone of a great project. That's what he was looking for, to be part of a big factory like Aprilia. He knew the potential and human capital in Noale because of what Aleix Espargaro told him and, from his time with teams like Aspar, Gresini and Pramac, Jorge knows the value of human capital. He appreciates the human touch within a team and, Aprilia, he'll definitely have that emotional plus that he likes so much, in order to give a bit more."
It's difficult to have clear goals at this point of the adventure in Noale, but winning immediately doesn't seem utopian.
"We prefer not to set goals for the first races. He hasn't yet tried the bike, only in the Barcelona test. It would be risky. Anything can happen and, if there's someone who can do it, without a doubt, it's Jorge, who got a pole and podium in his second MotoGP race. Obviously, the goal is to win and we'll fight to do that but, if it doesn't happen in the first races, we'll be patient and keep building."