Why Marco Bezzecchi Is the MVP of the 2025 Season (and Aprilia’s)

It would be obvious to focus mainly on Marc Marquez, an incredible talent still capable of rewriting history in the World Championship. Or on his brother Alex, a fully deserving vice-champion. We already have the answer to the title’s implied question by comparing this year’s results with previous seasons, as well as rewatching his races. Marco Bezzecchi, newly signed by Aprilia this year, truly grew exponentially in the MotoGP season that has just ended. He already had a world championship 3rd place in his second year in the premier class with Ducati, but this time it’s different—and not only because of the radical switch from the Desmosedici (ridden for three years) to the Aprilia.

Add to that the absence of his box mate, the pressure of being the reference rider in a factory team for the first time… Yet the rider from Romagna finished on the third step of the world championship podium! Would you have expected it? With several fun moments, like the Garpez at Misano or the ring for “his beloved,” the RS-GP, at the final event of 2025. And shall we forget his first duels with Marc Marquez? Aside from the big mistake for which he repeatedly apologized, he was the only one, along with Alex Marquez, to genuinely threaten the current MotoGP superstar’s race wins. Without jinxing it, we just hope for another step forward in 2026!

The MVP recognition mentioned in the headline was a new feature introduced this year in the GPs, where fans voted from home for the most deserving rider of the race. “I think [Aprilia] is a bike with which Marco can do well: it has characteristics, especially at the front end, that can give him that mid-corner feeling he’s looking for.” That’s how Matteo Flamigni, Bezzecchi’s crew chief during the VR46 Ducati period, put it in our late-2024 interview, at the time of their split. Let’s add that Aprilia has only just taken its first serious steps at the sharp end of the category—people always forget it’s not immediate to reach the top… The start of the 2025 World Championship was already interesting for the new all-Italian pairing, with loads of points finishes, especially in the top 10, up to the breakthrough in Sunday’s race at Silverstone.

Sure, Quartararo and his stricken Yamaha gave him a big hand, but even without that disaster, Bezzecchi’s first podium with Aprilia was on the cards, as he was solidly 2nd, which then became his first victory. From that moment on came plenty of podiums between the Sprints and GPs, with a few mistakes in between, but the growth was undeniable and, with Bagnaia’s disastrous season, 3rd overall became increasingly concrete. The Sprint wins at Misano, Mandalika and Phillip Island, and the GP victories at Portimao and Valencia, along with other solid podiums, were the decisive flashes. Switching bikes is no small unknown; people often forget how tough it can be… But for Bezzecchi it was a season to frame, with 15 podiums and 5 pole positions—never this good in MotoGP.

It caused a huge stir, in a clearly positive way, the tribute Marco Bezzecchi paid to the famous comedy trio Aldo Giovanni e Giacomo, referencing one of their most iconic films, “Three Men and a Leg”. The special helmet for Misano 2025 referenced Garpez, the artist of the legendary leg at the heart of the film: the mix with the Aprilia rider’s surname led to “GarBez”. A tribute that piqued the curiosity of all the non-Italians in the World Championship, which then became a historic moment when he brought a reproduction of the iconic leg on the cool-down lap and onto the podium, later explaining the meaning in English. A beautiful story that thrilled the Italian crowd and also spurred fans outside the peninsula to look up a film that has even become part of our everyday language. After the San Marino GP, there was an unprecedented spike in views, in Italy and abroad, and after the GP there was even a video call of congratulations from Aldo Baglio of the trio!

One of the moments that made the public appreciate Bezzecchi even more, but not the only one. Well before the unfortunate crash that took Marc Marquez out of the final part of the season, the Aprilia standard-bearer had shown nothing but appreciation for #93’s talent. “In the past I was immature; now there’s respect—you can’t deny his speed.” These were Marco Bezzecchi’s words in a press conference during the season, thus consigning to the past some fairly strong remarks against Marquez, complete with video evidence on social media. A show of respect confirmed by the Catalan champion himself, who repeatedly praised the Aprilia rider and later “shielded” him after the Mandalika crash from the fierce criticism of “couch riders,” which has now become a constant on the web. Fierce rivals on track, great respect and admiration off it: a display of fair play.

It was the most successful brand in the lower classes, and now we can add what it has done in the premier class. For the Veneto manufacturer, the best year in MotoGP has just been filed away—a historic milestone long awaited. With Marco Bezzecchi came third place overall with 353 points, the best result ever by a rider in Aprilia Racing’s MotoGP history. A special mention goes to Lorenzo Savadori, who very often had to stand in for Jorge Martin, while continuing his RS-GP development work. Let’s not forget the Trackhouse Racing satellite team, with rookie Ai Ogura on the rise and Raul Fernandez enjoying his best season in the premier class: first podium at Mandalika, repeat at Phillip Island and, the next day, the historic 300th victory for Aprilia across all World Championship categories. The season then ended with Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez dominating Valencia, the brand from Noale’s second one-two after Barcelona 2023. Results that took Aprilia to second in the constructors’ standings, making it also the most successful European manufacturer in World Championship history. And remember that in Valencia Bezzecchi then “put a ring on” his RS-GP… So keep an eye on a 2026 to savor in full.