Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin was absent as the riders assembled for the grid photo ahead of the Thailand Grand Prix. Martin has been ruled out after suffering fresh injuries this week.
His Aprilia bike, bearing the number one plate, was stationed at the front of the grid between Ducati riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia. But it was left vacant – a rather poignant image for Massimo Rivola and co.
Martin was already a doubt for the race in Buriram after a severe highside on day one of the Sepang Test. With fractures in his right hand and left foot, he had to return to Europe for surgery.
Earlier this week, the Spaniard carried out a training session on a motocross bike to establish his strength levels. Martin tried to ‘prove himself’ by chasing lap times, and it backfired as he fell again.
Absent in Thailand, he’s also almost certain to miss the second race in Argentina. In fact, Martin might need three months to fully heal.
With test rider Lorenzo Savadori replacing him, Aprilia’s hopes rest mostly on Marco Bezzecchi. The Italian completed a full testing programme after his move from VR46.
Massimo Rivola insists Marco Bezzecchi is relishing the ‘pressure’ at Aprilia with Jorge Martin out
Speaking to The Race’s Patreon channel, Rivola tried to restore Aprilia’s optimism for the new season. They arrived in Sepang full of excitement after their blockbuster coup.
Rivola draws hope from Bezzecchi’s performances in pre-season testing. The three-time premier-class winner endured a difficult 2024 but looks revitalised after receiving a factory contract.
The narrative is that Bezzecchi is under more ‘pressure’ with Martin unavailable. Aprilia could lose decisive ground relative to their rivals if he doesn’t deliver.
But Rivola insists the number 72 rider is relishing the added responsibility. He’s seen him emboldened rather than daunted.
“I need to be happy with what we have because we saw Marco really in a very good shape and honestly, I have a very good expectation for him,” Rivola said. “We see in testing, it was really super good.
“Now the pressure is there. I don’t see him under pressure at all. It looks like that kind of pressure he wants to have.”
Massimo Rivola is hoping Marco Bezzecchi proves him right at Thailand Grand Prix after Aprilia gamble
Rivola has already warned Martin that Bezzecchi will seriously test him when he returns. Based on last season, the former was the heavy favourite for the intra-team battle, but now the landscape has changed.
Martin will be at a major deficit in terms of mileage, and one would imagine he’ll still be nursing pain and discomfort for at least his first few races. It now seems likely that Bezzecchi will finish further up the table.
It’s not yet known where exactly Aprilia stand. They will hope, at the very least, to be the nearest challenger to Ducati, with a reduced gap compared to 2024.
Rivola had to persuade the Aprilia hierarchy to sign Bezzecchi, whose underwhelming displays last year (amid Michelin tyre gripes) sewed doubts. If he delivers a big result in Buriram, that will immediately be forgotten.
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