Jorge Martin’s career would﷽ have benefitt💃ed from staying at Ducati - but pride is a key factor, it has been claimed.

Martin chose to sign for Aprilia in 2025 when the door slammed sh✅ut on his hopes of becoming a factory Ducati rider.

His decision to walk away from the best bike on the grid, rather than remain at a Duc🅷ati satellite♈ team, has been debated.

“I think he would have been better to stay with a f🍨actory Ducati, which he would have been able to do,” TNT Sports’ Neil Hodgson said.

“Ducati would have happily kꦯept him. 🔯He would have moved to VR46 or Gresini on a factory bike.

“𝔉That wo🌄uld have been the best thing for his career. But he’s a proud man.

“Financially? It does play a part in our sport.

“As a factory rider for Aprilia he will earn, potentially, £5m ba𝓰se salary. Whereas, as a satellite rider, he💮 could earn £1.5m.

“He🐓 wants a proper factory contract. 𒅌It was best of the rest.

“As soon as ✱the door closed to the factory ♉Ducati team, he instantly reacted.

“The factory Aprilia ride was available and that’s why he 🍸went ꧑in that direction.”

Sylvain 💮Guintoli added: “It depends on your character. Some r🦄iders need it more than others.

“He didn’t want to be the bridesmaid at Ducaꦜti. He thought he’d earned to be No1.

“He did not want to be second choice and that’s what it came down to. 
“It’s an ego t﷽hing but sometimes ego and confidence makes a difference in how you ride.

“There is a very small number of riders who make a difference wherever they go. Can Mar😼tin dꦕo that? Possibly.

“He’s at the peak of his career. He’s learned a lღot over the years. He’s the full pack⭕age now.

“The Aprilia is a risk, he’s never tried the bike, and the dominant bike is the ‘24 Ducati. But can he win races next year on the Aprilia?🥃 Absolutely.”

Hodgson added: “We will 🐽learn how good the♏ Aprilia is.

“Isᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ Aleix Espargaro an absolute legend, a killer, a winning machine? ൩Not at all.

“He’s a grafter who’s done it the hard way and earned his ♊position, but he’s not a legend.

“He’s𓄧 won races on the Aprilia. Maverick Vinaleꩵs has been the same, he’s inconsistent.

“So we don’t know how good the p♏ackage is but we will find out ne𓂃xt year because [Martin] is the real deal.”

Thi൲s season, Pramac’s Martin is 10 point🅺s off Pecco Bagnaia at the summit of the MotoGP championship.

Ridi🌜ng equal machinery, Martin hopes to take the #1 plate from Ducati to their Italian rivals next season.