Marco Bezzecchi
Massimo Rivola expects KTM to give Aprilia “a run for our money” in their battle for second in the 2025 constructors’ standings, as they have four “truly talented” riders.
The Italian and Austrian manufacturers are engaged in a close battle for the silver medal this year, with Ducati in a class of their own after the first 16 of this term’s 22 rounds. Ducati lead the way on 575 points over Aprilia on 271 and KTM on 248, while Honda rank fourth on 198.
Aprilia star Marco Bezzecchi is also eyeing a top-three spot in the riders’ standings ahead of the final flyaways for the 2025 MotoGP season. The 26-year-old is currently fourth with 229 points, just eight behind Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and 41 ahead of KTM’s Pedro Acosta.
Bezzecchi won the Misano Sprint to strengthen his position in the standings, before securing his sixth podium of 2025 with his P2 in the San Marino Grand Prix. Aprilia also saw Bezzecchi win the British GP in May. KTM have only seen Acosta reach two podiums so far this season.
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola thinks Pedro Acosta is ‘clearly’ the ‘standout’ KTM rider
Acosta accounts for 66% of the KTM brand’s podiums amid the 2025 MotoGP season, with Tech3 pilot Enea Bastianini the only other rider to reach a rostrum with an RC16 after his P3 in the Catalan GP. Acosta sealed P3 in the Czech GP and also took P2 in the Hungarian GP.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Pedro Acosta from net worth to girlfriend
Aprilia CEO Rivola has been very impressed by Acosta’s performances since he stepped into the factory KTM team for 2025. The Spaniard graduated to KTM’s main crew after spending his rookie season last year with GASGAS Tech3, for whom he took five podiums in 19 races.
Acosta’s results in 2025 have now convinced Rivola that the 21-year-old is “clearly” the top KTM rider, ahead of factory teammate Brad Binder and Tech3 duo Bastianini and Maverick Vinales. Binder is also the only 2025 KTM rider whom Aprilia boss Rivola did not namecheck.
Rivola told Motosprint: “We still have fairly ambitious goals for this year, because we clearly want to confirm ourselves as the second-place manufacturer. KTM are our competitor, because they have an excellent bike and a line-up of four truly talented riders.
“Pedro clearly stands out from the rest, especially since both Enea and Maverick were injured. When all four are back in shape, they’ll give us a run for our money.”
Pedro Acosta has been KTM’s top rider 10 times in qualifying and in nine races in 2025
Acosta is the only KTM rider yet to win a MotoGP Grand Prix, with P2s in the 2024 Americas GP, Indonesian GP and 2025 Hungarian GP his best results to date in the premier class. KTM saw Binder get their first MotoGP win in the 2020 Czech GP, but he has only won once since.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Brad Binder from career stats to wife
KTM are also seeing Acosta claim control in their factory garage, to Rivola’s admiration. The 2021 Moto3 and 2023 Moto2 champion leads Binder with 188 points to 101, for P11 in the standings. Acosta has also been the top KTM in 10 qualifying sessions and nine races so far.
Vinales is yet to win on the KTM RC16, with his best finish P4 in the Spanish GP at Jerez, but he is a 10-time Grand Prix winner through 192 MotoGP races. Bastianini is also a seven-time premier class Grand Prix winner across 85 MotoGP races, with a best finish of P3 on a KTM.
Bastianini required a lot of time to adapt to the KTM RC16 after spending his first four years in MotoGP on a Ducati. Vinales did not need as long to adapt to the RC16 in his first year on a KTM, but he is having to rebuild his form after sustaining a left shoulder injury in Germany.
Vinales was the top KTM in qualifying in Qatar, Jerez, Le Mans and Mugello, while Bastianini led KTM in Austria and Hungary. Vinales lost a P2 in the Qatar GP due to tyre pressures, but he was the top KTM at Jerez. Binder has been the best KTM four times and Bastianini twice.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
