Jorge Lorenzo predicts how Marc Marquez would fare if he left Ducati for Aprilia

Add as preferred source on Google

Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi won the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday to underline the brand’s status as the biggest threat to Marc Marquez and Ducati in 2026.

Bezzecchi sealed third place in the standings behind the Marquez brothers with a sixth victory of the year, including Sprints. Boosted by Raul Fernandez’s maiden win for Trackhouse in Australia, they finished second in the world championship.

Aprilia will be confident of dethroning Ducati in the teams’ standings, should Jorge Martin return to form and fitness. But Marquez has shown in the past that he can win the riders’ title without necessarily having the all-round best bike.

Marquez won 25 of his 36 races before a season-ending injury. On the same machinery, Francesco Bagnaia only won four times and finished fifth in the championship, while VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio (sixth) didn’t stand on the top step at all.

Jorge Lorenzo says Marc Marquez would be ‘very fast’ on the current Aprilia

Speaking to DAZN at the Valencia test, Jorge Lorenzo declared that Aprilia have now reached Ducati’s level and may even be quicker at the venues that suit them most.

Marquez is thinking ‘very carefully’ about his future, aware that the pecking order could change significantly following the 2027 regulation changes. Aprilia’s rise may have caught his eye.

“I think Aprilia is on par with Ducati, or even ahead on many circuits right now,” said Lorenzo. “Marquez would also be very fast on an Aprilia.”

History suggests that the pecking order could be Marquez-Aprilia-Ducati, though KTM are also hoping to take a step after a strong end to the year. There’s also talk that the improving Honda have built a ‘phenomenal’ bike for 2026.

Lorenzo says Marquez will ‘lose something’ due to his injury and, if he’s correct, then it could be crucial for Bezzecchi and Aprilia to capitalise in the early rounds.

Is 2026 already a write-off for Jorge Martin?

Martin’s level is the major question mark for Aprilia. They need him competing at the front, not only to aid development, but also to take points off Marquez if they are targeting the riders’ title.

The expectation is that Bezzecchi, who has an enormous advantage when it comes to mileage on the RSGP, will lead the charge next year.

Lorenzo has warned Martin that he must be ‘very careful’ not to suffer another injury after four serious accidents in 2025. It’s crucial that he’s able to complete the testing programme in full.

“Jorge Martin has had 30 fractures,” he said. “When you’ve never been at 100%, when you’re lacking a lot of mileage, well, nowadays in MotoGP you suffer a lot. And Bezzecchi hasn’t had any injuries, he has many more kilometres than him, and he’s adapted very well to the Aprilia.

“We have to give him patience. He has to be very careful not to get injured again. Little by little, with patience, he’ll build up his speed.”