Disguised as a KTM Mechanic: Thief Who Stole Jorge Martin’s Bike Arrested

Monday, 08 December 2025 at 11:00

The Civil Guard has arrested a 44-year-old man in Madrid for stealing Jorge Martin’s bicycle. The incident occurred during the last MotoGP weekend in Cheste. The thief had also committed other thefts and was already known to law enforcement.

Theft in the paddock

Jorge Martín left the Valencia GP with a bitter taste in his mouth, and not because of the on-track results. The Aprilia rider had an exclusive bicycle stolen, worth around 20,000 euros. On Sunday the Civil Guard confirmed the arrest of the perpetrator. He is a 44-year-old man who, far from being a novice thief, already had a rather extensive criminal record. The most scandalous aspect of the case is that the individual committed the robbery while on leave!

The thief then decided to take advantage of the leave to go to Ricardo Tormo and commit another crime. The object of desire was not just any bike, but an exclusive Pinarello (only two exist). Trying to sell a limited edition on the second-hand market without arousing suspicion is practically impossible. What is truly worrying and surprising is the ease with which the thief moved in an apparently secure area.

The thief betrayed by cameras

The arrested man entered the MotoGP paddock with a simple disguise: pretending to be a member of the KTM team. He walked among the team’s trucks as if he were one of them. He went to Jorge Martin’s motorhome and stole the bike, ignoring other valuable items. Team personnel were focused on what was happening on track, and he was able to slip away undisturbed.

The mistake that led to his arrest did not occur inside the circuit, but in the surrounding area. Civil Guard officers reviewed hours and hours of security footage, not only from the Cheste track, but also from adjacent facilities. It was at a nearby service station that the suspect was captured on video. He was entering while carrying the bicycle, still disguised as a KTM member. Following that lead, investigators managed to identify him and locate him at his home in Madrid.

Examining his profile, they discovered that not only did he have a criminal record for property crimes, but he was also under investigation for stealing a car from a dealership. Now Jorge Martin will be able to get his exclusive bike back.