Yamaha have set out the thinking behind one of MotoGP’s most significant deals of the year. Racing boss Paolo Pavesio has explained why the Jorge Martin Yamaha transfer became the priority the moment Fabio Quartararo’s future became clear. Yamaha learned that Quartararo will leave for Honda once his current contract ends, and that news reshaped the factory’s plans for its new 850cc era.
Martin, the reigning world champion, was identified as the rider to lead that project. It’s a bold call given Yamaha’s current form, but Pavesio has laid out exactly why the Spaniard was worth pursuing.
Speaking to Motorsport.com Italy, Pavesio made clear that Martin’s own enthusiasm mattered as much as his talent. Yamaha wanted a rider willing to commit to a factory that is still finding its way back to the front, and Martin fit that description without hesitation.
Yamaha Boss Explains Key Drivers Behind Jorge Martin Transfer
Pavesio’s central point was simple. Martin didn’t need convincing about the size of the challenge at Yamaha, and he came across as genuinely keen to be part of the rebuild rather than a rider just chasing a contract, as he explained to Motorsport.com Italy.
Jorge made us feel wanted. I wanted someone with whom I could be transparent about the project, but also someone who wanted to come to a company that is currently struggling in terms of performance, but is investing heavily and has a great history.
That honesty runs both ways. Yamaha aren’t pretending results have been good enough, and Pavesio’s approach was to be upfront with Martin about where the project stands rather than oversell it.
It’s an approach that fans of the factory will recognise. Yamaha have been open about their struggles for some time, and Pavesio’s comments suggest the pitch to Martin leaned on ambition and investment rather than promises of instant success.
Paolo Pavesio on Signing Martin for the 850cc Project
Pavesio also pointed to Yamaha’s history in the premier class as part of the appeal, even while admitting that past success guarantees nothing going forward.
History does not guarantee us any future success. But what I sensed was that he wants to come and help a company that has won the world championship in the premier class with only seven riders — but what riders they were! Everyone knows those names.
That list of champions is clearly part of the sell. Pavesio believes Martin sees an opportunity to join a small, elite group rather than simply collect a pay cheque at a factory that needs rebuilding.
He went further on what a title with Yamaha would mean for Martin’s legacy.
For a guy who has already won the title, if he manages to do that with us, he puts himself on that list.
It’s a strong statement of intent from Pavesio, and one that frames the Jorge Martin Yamaha transfer as more than a straightforward business decision. Yamaha are betting that Martin’s competitive instincts, sharpened by the way he fought for the 2024 crown, will translate into the same hunger once he’s on the M1. Anyone who watched his analysis of Martin’s Austrian victory will know that hunger hasn’t gone anywhere.
Gino Borsoi Insights and Martin’s Title-Winning Pedigree
Martin won the 2024 MotoGP title with Pramac, edging out Francesco Bagnaia in one of the closest championship battles in years. That pedigree gave Yamaha confidence, but Pavesio was clear that the human side of the deal mattered just as much as the numbers.
That’s where Pramac team manager Gino Borsoi came in. Borsoi has worked closely with Martin for years and gave Yamaha a picture of the rider that went well beyond his results sheet.
We believed in the rider. We had the advantage of having [Pramac team manager] Gino [Borsoi], who knows him well, including understanding the person behind the rider.
That insight seems to have been decisive. Signing a world champion is one thing; knowing how he handles pressure, setbacks and a difficult bike is another, and Borsoi’s knowledge gave Yamaha the confidence to move. Martin has shown that competitive edge all season, not least when he secured pole position at the Austrian GP.
Contractual Shifts and Yamaha’s 850cc Transition Rules
Quartararo’s decision to leave for Honda at the end of his contract left Yamaha needing a genuine top-line replacement, and Pavesio didn’t dress that up as anything else.
At that moment, we wanted at least one top rider and things developed that way.
Asked whether the arrangement amounts to a gamble for both sides, given Yamaha’s current struggles and Martin’s status as a reigning champion, Pavesio didn’t dodge the question.
Yes, that is fair.
It’s a rare piece of candour from a factory boss, and it underlines how much both parties are relying on trust built before a single race has been run under the new arrangement. Martin arrives with his own injury history to manage too, having recently ruled out surgery, as covered in our report on Martin ruling out arm pump surgery.
For now, the deal rests on the same foundations Pavesio described: honesty about where Yamaha stand, belief in Martin’s character built on Borsoi’s word, and a shared ambition to add another name to that short list of champions. Full detail on Pavesio’s comments can be found in the Motorsport.com report on Pavesio’s comments.
