Marco Bezzecchi reveals: "The real turning point was at Jerez

Marco Bezzecchi has just had his best season in MotoGP. In 2024 he finished 12th with the VR46 team’s Ducati; in 2025 he clinched a brilliant third place with Aprilia. A leap in performance accompanied by a radical change of environment: new bike, new team, and a completely different role within the garage.

His move to Aprilia came with plenty of uncertainty, even though the RS-GP was already a respected bike. On top of that, all eyes were on his teammate, Jorge Martin, fresh off winning the MotoGP title. The Spaniard was the clear reference point, both for the bike’s development and the season’s goals. But injuries for the Martinator—before, during, and after testing—forced the Noale factory to reconfigure the team’s organization. The burden of developing the RS-GP unexpectedly fell on Bezzecchi’s shoulders.

It was the first time the Italian rode a factory bike and, moreover, took on a leading role in the technical development of a works team. "Being a factory rider was probably the biggest challenge." The VR46 Academy rider gained a unique experience, a mix of lessons that will serve as a launch pad for the future. He withstood the pressure, and mentally and on track he beat his friend-rival Pecco Bagnaia on the Ducati, snatching third place from him in the MotoGP standings.

Yet the start of the season was tough for Aprilia and Marco. On top of Martín’s injuries came Raul Fernandez’s physical issues, while Ai Ogura faced his first year as a MotoGP rookie. "It was very hard, obviously, for the whole factory," Bezzecchi told Crash.net. "Expectations for Jorge, in particular, were sky-high." Despite everything, they had to keep going, against the Ducati juggernaut. "We never gave up. Our objective was clear, we worked hard and got back to having fantastic races... Being on my own wasn’t easy."

The upside was clear. "I had many engineers dedicated solely to me. They worked hard and listened to me carefully." Although the pre-season tests had already left a great impression, Bezzecchi identifies a key moment. "For me, the turning point was the Jerez test." That’s when things started to click. "We began to see improvements in the data, in my feeling, and in the results."

The first win came at Silverstone after a great comeback, but it wasn’t the only highlight. "Silverstone was fantastic, of course; the first win with the team was really special," Bez recalled. But the podium and the MotoGP Sprint victory at Misano are also indelible memories. In 2026 he’ll try to raise the bar, even though the competition will be fierce. But the Aprilia rider seems to have a clear plan. "We’re in 2025. I already have a contract for next season and, for now, I’m focused on giving my best."