Honda test rider Aleix Espargaro says “I never pushed” to join MotoGP’s Japanese mark from 2026 amid rumors that there is a possibility of a split between the Spaniard and Aprilia.
The French post-Grand Prix bomb report claimed that reigning champion Jorge Martin is about to break his contract with Aprilia next year.
Martin is said to be trying to exercise performance clauses in his contract to get out of his contract in 2026, and Padock rumors have tied him to the factory Honda team.
Aprilia issued a statement on Thursday ahead of the UK Grand Prix, denying that there had been negotiations between the parties about breaking the contract.
Since his first report on Martin, speculation has been spreading about what role Alex Espargaro played as the three-time Grand Prix winner has helped persuade him to sign the 2024 world champion.
Espargaro, who plays the wild card with Honda this weekend at Silverstone on Thursday, moved to counteract the speculation.
“I can’t say,” he began.
“What I’m trying to say is that if Jorge is in Aprilia, I’m not saying it’s my fault, I’m saying it’s because of me, but I pushed up a lot of Aprilia management and tried to convince Jorge as many people as possible.
“He had to decide on two or three different makers, so I pushed him quite a bit to sign him to Aprilia.
“I’ll never swear – I told him to join Honda, and I don’t think it’s the right time yet.
“Obviously Jorge is a great rider. Every team wants to have a world champion, and that’s certainly true.
“I want to see Jorge win the race with Aprilia. But one thing I say is that I never pushed him into joining Honda.”
Espargaro has been denied by Aprilia that these negotiations with Martin were held, but Espargaro has interestingly pointed out that he is not “surprising” about the situation.
In detail, he states: “This is about athletes and their minds.
“No one in this room, even me, can understand how much he suffered from frustration during the first three or four months of injury.
“So when you’re in this position, you don’t know what you’re going to do, what your head will decide.”
But Espargaro also threw his support behind Aprilia. After spending eight years with the brand, Espargaro said he was made to feel like Valentino Rossi.
When asked by Crash.Net whether he felt that Aprilia and his year that he could trust its management team, he replied.
“I have great respect for that team. They feel they have a perfect balance between competition and family mood. I’m very happy.
“I always felt like Valentino Rossi to them, but once again, it’s not about me, it’s not about Aprilia.
“It’s about a rider who was at the top of the world and suddenly at the bottom.
“So it’s hard to understand what you’re going to do in his position. But whatever he decides, I’ll stay close to him and stay close to him.”
