Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola believes the team’s true potential will become evident starting in September, and he is optimistic about challenging Marc Marquez in the final 10 rounds of the MotoGP season. Marquez, riding for Ducati, dominated the first part of the season by winning eight Grand Prix races and 11 sprint races within the initial 12 rounds, securing a hefty 120-point lead in the championship. After the recent Czech Grand Prix, Marquez acknowledged that his grip on the title might be slipping.
Aprilia aims to challenge Marquez’s dominance. The team broke Ducati’s stronghold in the 2025 season when Marco Bezzecchi won the British Grand Prix. Bezzecchi also gave a tough fight to Marquez at the Dutch Grand Prix, narrowly missing victory at Assen, and remained Marquez’s closest competitor at the Czech Grand Prix. By the summer break, Aprilia stood second on the manufacturer’s leaderboard, consistently placing in the top five.
With Jorge Martin back to full strength on Aprilia’s factory team, Rivola is confident the Italian outfit can outpace Marquez in the upcoming races. Speaking in Brno, Rivola said, “We aren’t yet where we want to be since the changes in our team were meant to secure the title, but there are reasons to be optimistic.” He added, “From September onwards, I see Aprilia’s true value. I believe Jorge won’t need many races to start contending for podiums.”
Rivola also praised Marquez’s exceptional performance, acknowledging that both Marquez and Lorenzo Savadori have been crucial to Aprilia’s current standing. He expressed confidence that if they can compete with Marquez on the Ducati, which many consider unbeatable, then victory is within reach. Rivola pointed out that some tracks, such as Austria, aren’t ideal for Aprilia, but overall, he’s encouraged by how Marquez rides and how the bike performs across different circuits.
Fan Take: This update is thrilling news for MotoGP fans, signaling a potentially intense and unpredictable championship battle in the season’s latter stages. Aprilia’s resurgence against a dominant Marquez promises exciting racing and could reshape the competitive dynamics of the sport.
