Marco Bezzecchi
The 2026 MotoGP season is still months away, but talk is already building for 2027 and the new regulations.
As the bikes move from 1000cc to 850cc engines, as well as the ride height device being banned, no one knows what the pecking order will look like. But teams are already beginning their preparations.
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KTM recently tested their 2027 machine with Pol Espargaro, with Honda set to follow suit. Ducati will be hoping to continue their dominance in MotoGP under the new rules, but concerns around fuel supplier Shell could hamper them under the new rules.
Yamaha instantly realised they had to build a V4 after reading the 2027 rules, as there was no way for them to continue using the inline four. Aprilia are also working hard behind the scenes, but they are already encountering problems.
Aprilia do not have enough money to build their 2026 and 2027 bikes simultaneously
The Noale outfit made serious progress in 2025, even with Jorge Martin struggling with injury throughout the season. Marco Bezzecchi and test rider Lorenzo Savadori helped develop the RS-GP into a race-winning machine, and capable of challenging Ducati.
Massimo Rivola backs his riders to fight for the title in 2026, but he faces a problem with development and the team’s resources.
According to a report from Speedweek, ‘Aprilia cannot afford to fully utilise their resources and pursue both development projects simultaneously. Despite their success, they have one of, if not the smallest, budgets in MotoGP, and it could cost them dearly.
It gives Aprilia a ‘great dilemma’ of needing to prioritise either next year’s bike or their 850cc machine in 2027. Either way, it could put them on the back foot in the season they choose not to focus on – should they choose 2026, Rivola’s team could be in trouble under the new regulations.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Aprilia from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy
Aprilia must sign a second test rider to prevent them from falling behind in 2027
Another problem that troubles Aprilia is their rider line-up. At present, they are the only manufacturer on the MotoGP grid to have only one test rider in Savadori.
Yamaha have Andrea Dovizioso and Augusto Fernandez to rely on, while Honda have three options available, in Takaaki Nakagami, Aleix Espargaro and Stefan Bradl. Ducati will add Nicolo Bulega to their ranks with Michelle Pirro, and KTM have veterans Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa.
While Savadori has worked wonders behind the scenes with Aprilia up to this point, these regulation changes could leave the team limited if he has all of the work on his shoulders. ‘Matteo Baiocco was also involved in the past’, but he is ‘now only available for basic functional testing’.
Aprilia’s best option would be to bring in another rider onto their books if they are serious about being competitive in both 2026 and 2027. But with limited resources, that might not be possible, meaning that their current riders will need to be relied on more than ever.
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