Among the most sought-after names on the market are two young talents such as Pedro Acosta, who will not remain at KTM beyond this year, and Jorge Martín, whose contract with Aprilia also expires at the end of the season.
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Motorsport.com took advantage of the presentation of the Piaggio Group team this Thursday in Milan to speak exclusively with the agent of both drivers, Albert Valera.
Motorsport.com: A year ago we were here in this same place with a very ambitious project, with Martin wearing the number 1 and as the main figure of Aprilia. Have things changed much since then?
Alberto Valera: You have to live in the present. A year ago, Jorge had just won the world championship; Now we are coming from a very difficult season.
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But we are here with a lot of emotion; We have the 89 on the bike again, with the same desire and motivation as always, I would even say more, because after such a hard year he values even more the profession he has and what he has achieved so far.
I see Jorge very positive and aware of what he can still achieve. He is very confident that this year he will be able to fight for the world championship until the end; that is your goal.
MS: We all know what happened last year with the famous Aprilia exit clause. It has been said that everything has been reset and forgotten. Has the wound healed or is it still open?
AV: For our part, it is not open. We understand that Aprilia did everything possible to retain Jorge. They understand that we had our reasons for doing what we did. There has always been professional respect; each side did its job. In any conflict or disagreement you have to look for the positive side, and if there is something good that we take away from it, it is that Aprilia really fought for Jorge, because they believed in him and still believe in him today. And that is something we value very much.
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MS: We know that cyclists are made of different materials, but after getting hurt every time he hit the track last year, can the word “fear” enter Martin’s vocabulary?
AV: No. Jorge is a lion, like the one they put on the bike (the livery). He is a bull that is not afraid and the best proof of this is the outing he made in Japan, which ended up causing him an injury.
A scared runner doesn’t make starts like that. Quite the opposite: Jorge is a very daring driver, with a lot of motivation and energy, and if he channels it as he did in 2024, he can win another world championship.
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MS: The gurus say the cycling market will move very early this year; Both Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge end their contracts at the end of 2026. In what scenario do you think Aprilia will operate?
AV: I think that right now Aprilia is the second best motorcycle after Ducati, or I would even dare to say that it is on the same level. This has made them a very attractive option for any cyclist. They have shown that they are a great family and a great project. After last year’s disagreement, we have seen that they have continued to treat Jorge the same or even better, and they trust him again. So I would say Aprilia is in pole position for many riders…
MS: Including Martin?
AV: For Jorge it is an option, indeed.
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MS: But on the pole or in the second row?
AV: I will tell you that in a few weeks, but yes, it is a very serious option to consider, because they deserve it and, today, together with Ducati, they have the best motorcycle.
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing team
Factory team the first option for Acosta
In addition to Martín, Valera is also the manager of Acosta, possibly one of the most coveted riders on the MotoGP market at the moment. Just this week, on Wednesday, Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team held its launch event in Rome, and Italian team manager Uccio Salucci once again stated that he has a soft spot for Acosta.
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MS: Is the VR46 option for Acosta real?
AV: There are possibilities with the vast majority of teams. Is it an option? Yes. As I said, Ducati is, along with Aprilia, the best bike, so why not? It could be an option. Obviously every driver aspires to go to the official team, so that will be our main objective. If that does not happen, you always have to study a plan B or a plan C. But I insist: our first objective is to fight for a place in a factory team, whether Ducati or another manufacturer.
MS: When would you like to have the future of Acosta and Martín resolved?
AV: We are eager to test the 2027 bikes. It is going to be a blind decision because a new regulation arrives and everything starts from scratch. You have to take risks and trust the people, the individuals that make up each team. That will be the key: for each cyclist to choose the human capital they want to work with in 2027 and 2028, the people they believe will give them a better bike and greater happiness.
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I would say that, unlike other years, there is no point in waiting to see what the bikes will be like. I think the market is going to move soon and in the first races we will know the fate of many runners.
Also read:
Pedro Acosta: “Forgetting about the championship” transformed my form in MotoGP
How concessions reduced Ducati’s lead in MotoGP
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