Aprilia sounds the charge: Rivola and Martin challenge Ducati

Aprilia wants to start from the front row again in 2026, after an excellent last season in MotoGP. Marco Bezzecchi’s third place is a springboard toward more ambitious goals. A pity about Jorge Martin’s injuries, which prevented the 2024 world champion from expressing his full potential on the RS-GP. The satellite team Trackhouse also delivered strong results. All the ingredients are there to think big!

The 2025 MotoGP season began uphill for the Noale manufacturer, with ‘Martinator’ injured even before the start. Bezzecchi stepped up to ensure the Spanish talent wasn’t missed. "We just needed to put everything together to understand what he was looking for on the bike," Massimo Rivola told the official MotoGP website. "But once we found the solution, I think he showed he can fight for the title. I’m sure it will be great motivation for Jorge next year as well."

The fact that Aprilia’s satellite team, Trackhouse Racing, also notched a Top 10, a Top 5, several podiums, and even a victory (Raul Fernandez in Valencia) gives Massimo Rivola plenty of reason for optimism. "When you have a satellite team pushing you, it’s a great motivation. It clearly shows it’s not just about the factory team. If you have an Aprilia, you can succeed."

2026 will kick off with great motivation, as we await the performance of the new bike. "It will be a good year for Aprilia," Rivola assured. "I’m sure Marco will attack again right away... But I also have high hopes for Jorge. We need to give him time and confidence. Obviously, we don’t know exactly what they will do to develop and improve the bike. We know the RS-GP26 will be a bit better than this 2025 version. So we’re quite optimistic."

While Marco Bezzecchi is now a sure bet, there’s great anticipation to see Jorge Martin find harmony with the Veneto prototype. Injuries heavily affected his first year in MotoGP with Aprilia. Now it’s time to start again, perhaps in Marc Marquez style... "Márquez is an example of how you can get back up. I don’t want to compare myself to him, but I feel it’s my turn now. I’m not saying I want to win, because nothing is guaranteed, but I want to compete at 100%. That’s my goal."

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