#MotoGP #MotoGP2025 #JorgeMartin #Aprilia #MarcMarquez
Amidst current speculation about Jorge Martin potentially leaving Aprilia early, this article looks back at 12 other MotoGP riders who didn't complete their original contracts.
The list includes Marco Melandri, who struggled at Ducati in 2008 despite high expectations and later had a dismal short return with Aprilia in 2015. Colin Edwards retired mid-season in 2014 with Forward Yamaha. Cal Crutchlow left Ducati a year early in 2014 to join LCR Honda. Sam Lowes was surprisingly dropped by Aprilia after just one year in 2017. Jonas Folger's promising 2017 with Tech3 was cut short by health issues, preventing his return in 2018. Johann Zarco requested to leave his factory KTM contract early in 2019 after struggling with the bike, eventually finding success elsewhere. Karel Abraham lost his Avintia Ducati seat to Zarco for the 2020 season. The high-profile move of Jorge Lorenzo to Repsol Honda in 2019 ended in early retirement due to injuries and poor performance. Andrea Iannone's Aprilia contract was terminated in 2020 due to a doping ban. Maverick Vinales' partnership with Yamaha ended abruptly in 2021 following an incident at the Austrian Grand Prix, leading to his move to Aprilia. Andrea Dovizioso retired mid-season with RNF Yamaha in 2022 after struggling with the bike. Finally, Pol Espargaro moved to a test rider role for KTM in 2023 to make way for Pedro Acosta. The most recent prominent case is Marc Marquez, who left Repsol Honda a year early in 2023 due to injury struggles and the bike's lack of competitiveness, allowing him to join Gresini Ducati.
