Marco Bezzecchi
Marco Bezzecchi has been Aprilia Racing’s flag-bearer in the current campaign, and team chief Massimo Rivola has identified an area of the Italian’s racecraft that puts him in a league above his MotoGP rivals.
Bezzecchi has had to step up to the plate this year and lead Aprilia’s charge in MotoGP due to the long injury layoffs that his counterpart, Jorge Martin, has faced during 2025.
Both riders were new additions to the factory team ahead of the current term, with many believing that Martin was the man to spearhead Aprilia’s efforts.
However, due to the injuries sustained in three separate crashes throughout 2025, Martin has competed in just six Grands Prix for the Italian constructor and has been unable to put up a defence of his 2024 title.
After a relatively average first start to the season, Bezzecchi has been in fine form as of late. The 26-year-old has become a regular member in the podium hunt, and has shown strong one-lap pace with three pole positions at the last six race weekends.
READ MORE: Marco Bezzecchi reveals the advice Valentino Rossi once gave him to beat Jorge Martin
Massimo Rivola thinks ‘no one else’ on the MotoGP grid can overtake like Marco Bezzecchi
One thing that has caught the eye of Aprilia chief Massimo Rivola is the four-time Grand Prix winner’s racecraft. More specifically, the ability to overtake riders like ‘no one else’ on the grid.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport at the Trento Sports Festival, Rivola hailed the impressive traits of his rider, saying, “People always say that in modern MotoGP you can’t overtake, and he’s the living proof that we’re talking nonsense.
“Especially in the first part of the year, when we were struggling a bit and starting a bit further back, he never finished back there. I think the performance was there, but even when it wasn’t quite there yet, he still went for it and made it work.
“In the past, people said that with the Aprilia, you can’t overtake, but I’d love for a journalist to actually count how many overtakes he’s made. In Indonesia, in the sprint race, 13 laps, he was eighth after two corners, and he won the race.
“For me, there’s no one else who overtakes like he does, because this year at least, he’s overtaken as much as anyone, if not more.”
Unfortunately, Bezzecchi’s most recent overtaking opportunity didn’t quite go to plan at the Grand Prix of Indonesia. In an attempt to get past the world-beating Marc Marquez, the Italian clipped his rear wheel, ending both riders’ races, as well as potentially ending the Ducati rider’s season.
READ MORE: Marc Marquez has now changed his mind about one MotoGP rival he once secretly ‘hated’
Massimo Rivola also offered his verdict on Marco Bezzecchi’s 2026 MotoGP title chances
Aprilia technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini thinks people have the ‘wrong’ impression of Bezzecchi in a verdict on the impressive work ethic he has seen from the 26-year-old during his debut season with the Italian constructor.
The comments have been echoed by Rivola, who was also asked how far he thinks Bezzecchi can go in MotoGP by La Gazzetta dello Sport at the same event.
The Italian executive replied, “Marco has improved tremendously, and in 2026, he could become world champion.”
Bezzecchi’s emergence as one of the best riders on the grid has been aided by Aprilia’s work on their 2025 spec bike, the RS-GP25.
Former MotoGP rider Neil Hodgson applauded Aprilia for fixing their ‘weak areas’ during the San Marino Grand Prix last month. Bezzecchi shone at Misano, as he engaged in an intense battle with Marquez, which saw both riders go toe-to-toe at the Italian circuit.
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