“Faced with the situation of having to make a decision on a date that is established by contract, I have decided to exercise my right to release myself for the 2026 season,” Martin said in a statement.

Martin, who won his first MotoGP title last season with Pramac Racing, switched to Aprilia on a two-year deal, but the 27-year-old has had a nightmare start to the season, having yet to score a point after six rounds.

Wrist and ankle injuries sustained in a pre-season testing crash prevented him from competing in the first three rounds before a crash in his first race in Qatar led to a collapsed lung and bruised ribs that kept him off the bike for weeks.

--Reuters--