Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP fans are discussing a proposal to ban the ‘leg wings’ seen on the Aprilia and Honda bikes with immediate effect.
Aprilia debuted the design during the British GP weekend at the end of May, and it was promptly replicated by Honda. But they could now be outlawed on safety grounds.
There are concerns about the proximity of the winglets to the riders’ legs in the event of an accident. But as reported by Motorsport Italy, this is only theoretical, with no firm evidence to support the case so far.
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There’s an unconfirmed rumour that Ducati are the main advocate for the rule change, in part to destabilise Aprilia. It could also be advantageous for KTM and Yamaha to block an ‘important area of development’ for their rivals.
How big an impact could the Aprilia wing ban have on the 2026 MotoGP season?
The proposed rule change doesn’t require unanimous approval because it’s said to concern rider safety. Based on the wording, the winglets will be ‘gone’ entirely if it goes through.
According to Mundo Deportivo, it could ‘turn the paddock upside down’ heading into next season. It will force Aprilia and Honda to ‘explore new ways to optimise airflow’.
Aprilia’s best season since returning to MotoGP
But given that there are only eight weeks until the first tests of 2026 in Malaysia, it would be extremely late to change aerodynamic concepts.
Aprilia emerged as the main threat to Ducati’s dominance last year, winning seven races and finishing second in the constructors’ championship. They arguably finished the year with the fastest bike on the grid, though the absence of world champion Marc Marquez may have distorted the picture.
What other MotoGP rules are changing for the 2026 season?
The MotoGP rules will be largely unchanged for 2026. This is seen as a sensible approach with major regulation changes looming for 2027.
At the start of 2025, teams in the top three concessions brackets were required to homologate the engines they would use for the next two seasons.
Next year, Francesco Bagnaia may choose to revert back to the GP24 engine after a desperately inconsistent season with the updated machinery.
It may be that the winter reset for Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, two riders who were non-factors this year for different reasons, plays a crucial role in the Ducati vs Aprilia battle.
Marco Bezzecchi knows that Marquez is the benchmark, but he refuses to believe that the Spaniard is ‘invincible’.
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