Honda test rider Aleix Espargaro says “I never pushed” Jorge Martin to join the Japanese marque in MotoGP from 2026, amid rumours of a possible split between the Spaniard anꦫd Aprilia.

A bombshell report following the French Grand Prix claimed that reigning champion 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Jorge Martin is looking to break his cꦉontract with Aprilia for next year.

Martin is said to be trying 🅠to exercise a perfo♕rmance clause in his contract to get out of it for 2026, with paddock rumours linking him to the factory Honda squad.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Apꦬrilia issued a statement on Thursday ahead of the ൩British Grand Prix denying that there have been negotiations between both parties around breaking their contract.

Since that initial report on Martin, speculation has been rife as to what role 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Aleix Espargaro has had in it as the three-time grand prix winner was instru♏mental🀅 in convincing Aprilia to sign the 2024 world champion.

On Thursday at Silverstone, Espargaro - who is wildcarding with Honda𝕴 this weekend - moved to quash this speculation.

“Nothing I can say,” he began.

“The only thing that I would like to say is that if Jorge is in Aprilia - I’m not saying that it’s my fault or it’s thanks to me - but I pushed Aprilia management a lot, I pushed Jorge a lot to try to co🅘nvince him as much as possible.

“He had to decide between two ꩲor three different manufacturers and I pushed him quiಞte a lot to sign for Aprilia.

“I never, ever - I swear - talked to him to join Honda🔴. I think it’s not the right time yet.

“Obviously Jorge’s an amazing rider. Every team would lik📖e to have the world champion, that’s for su👍re.

“I would love to see Joไrge winning races with Aprilia. But the one✃ thing I would say is that I never pushed him to join Honda.”

While there has been denial from Aprilia that these negotiations with Martin have taken place, Espargaro intriguingly noted that he is “not surprised” about the situ﷽ation.

Elaborating, he said: “This is about the athletes and theꦛir minds.

“Nobody in this room, not even me, can💝 unders𝐆tand how much he was suffering through the first three or four months of the year during the injury, due to the frustration.

“So, when you are in this position you n🌳ev🍎er know what you will do, what your head will decide.”

But Espargaro did also throw his support behind Aprilia. Having spent eight years with the brand, Espargaro says he was made💝 to feel like its Valentino Rossi.

Asked by if he felt in his years with Aprilia that he could trust its management, he replied: “I always felt that I had an amazing treatment 🅺from Aprilia management.

“I have huge respect for that team. I feel they have the perfect balance between competition and fam🔜ily mood. I▨ as very, very happy.

“I always felt like I was the Valentino Rossi for them. But once agaiꦕn, it’s♓ not about me, it’s not about Aprilia.

“It’s about a rider who had been at the top of t♋he world and 🌃suddenly was at the bottom.

“So, it’s difficult to understand what you would do in his position. B𓆉ut whatever he decides I will respect and try to stay close to him.”