By the end of the week we will know. But it would be more correct to write, we will see. Above all, we will see if Massimo Rivola on the All Stars stage in Misano will have done a 'reset' (I wanted to use another image) or will continue in the good-natured policy to retain his rider, Jorge Martin, who in his last outburst reiterated that he had signed the contract because he had been assured of a clause allowing him to liberate himself if, in his final view, he judged the RS-GP to be uncompetitive.
A statement that amounts to saying, dear Aprilia, you knew this from the beginning. I am not violating any agreement. I am only exercising my right. You promised me something and now you don't want to fulfill it.
Jorge has spun this around very well, probably hoping for a sweet exit, thus responding to the cloying publicity made by the Noale factory in the two main Spanish newspapers, El Pais and Marca, one political and one sports, in the aftermath of Marco Bezzecchi's victory at Silverstone.
Good publicity, mind you. If it had stopped at 'Bravo Marco'. It would have been a full stop. A signal. We are Aprilia. We win.
What is jarring is the next line: Jorge te esperamos.
Kind of like telling the girlfriend who cheated on us and cuckolded us, we are waiting for you. We don't care what you did. We can't live without you.
Excessive, no? OK, in love you do everything. But there is also business here, business. Let's talk about Aprilia, the manufacturer that fired Max Biaggi - the current brand ambassador of the company - when the Corsair took excessive liberties. After three consecutive world championships, let's remember. Then, it's true, the Roman won the title again the following year with Honda, but he eventually returned as the prodigal son to win in Superbike.
For both of them: straight back. One can't be so condescending. Aprilia is Aprilia. Well before Ducati arrived Aprilia made history. As long as there has been racing, riders have come and gone. And you can't force a rider to race, and take risks, if they don't have the conviction to race to represent the company name.
Racers are mercenaries, it's true, but up to a point. And the public knows that, and reacts accordingly. We have nothing against Jorge, who is a great guy. Even sweet, in his own way. But while his decision to leave Ducati with the feeling of being betrayed is totally understandable, and showing up the next day to shake Rivola's hand a reaction foul - as long as you are under contract, and Martin was, you don't take pictures of yourself with the rival brand - to make his intentions known publicly after Le Mans was a cold betrayal. It is not forgivable.
Then, it's true, it can happen but are we sure the fans will like the eventual Martin 2.0, albeit a winning one? We aren't certain.
The only thing we are certain about is that a firm position is the only possibility for a manufacturer with the blazon of Aprilia. Since last year Noale has lost Romano Albesiano, Aleix Espargarò and, now, Jorge Martin. Two coincidences make a clue. Three make a proof.