Marco Bezzecchi
Aprilia welcomed Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi to Noale in 2025, but the Italian factory will soon have decisions to make as their contracts are due to expire in 2026.
Martin and Bezzecchi both agreed to join Aprilia from the 2025 MotoGP season on two-year contracts, as they left Pramac and VR46 respectively. Their deals kept both riders in line with most of the premier class grid, with only three riders currently under contract through 2027.
Bezzecchi proved during 2025 that Aprilia were right to get him as the Noale outfit moved to replace Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales. But injury after injury meant Martin could not match the Italian, which ensured the Spaniard could not defend the title he won for Pramac.
Aprilia saw Martin start in just seven of the 22 Grands Prix in 2025, and he also only finished four of those, to finish the term 21st in the riders’ standings with 34 points. Bezzecchi ended the season third in the standings with 353 points, having also secured three Grand Prix wins.
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Aprilia’s ‘goal’ is to agree new contracts with Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi
Only Marc Marquez scored more Grand Prix wins than Bezzecchi in 2025, as the Ducati star scored 11 victories en route to taking the title. Now, Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola is confident that Bezzecchi can fight Marquez for the 2026 MotoGP title as the Italian squad’s “flagship”.
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Bezzecchi impressed Rivola with how he grew throughout 2025, so Aprilia hope to convince the 27-year-old to sign a new contract for at least 2027. Aprilia’s “goal” will also be to agree to a new contract with Martin, who Rivola hopes to see stay fit and push Bezzecchi in 2026.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport: “After the initial and inevitable struggle to settle in, Silverstone was the turning point. Empathy fuels performance because it’s based on trust.
“I’m confident that Marco can fight for the world championship, and he’s confident that Aprilia can allow him to do so. There’s a natural connection with Marco.
“Having said that, he’s not afraid of anything. For the final push, I’d like to see him with a 100% teammate so the team do not have to focus entirely on him. But he’s already ready.
“I hope Jorge returns to the top so we have two very strong riders. The goal is to renew with both of them, and make Bez our flagship.”
Aprilia seldom saw what Jorge Martin could offer due to his injuries in 2025
Bezzecchi won the British Grand Prix after Fabio Quartararo retired while comfortably in the lead at Silverstone this May. Yamaha star Quartararo had built a four-and-a-half-second lead over Bezzecchi in the first 11 laps, but his rear ride height device stuck in its engaged setting.
Aprilia would see Bezzecchi challenge for further Grand Prix wins in the Dutch GP, Czech GP and San Marino GP. But it took the Italian until the final two rounds to win again, as he took glory during the Portuguese GP and Valencia GP while Marquez was missing through injury.
Martin took his best result of 2025 with P4 in the Hungarian GP, having climbed through the field from P16. But injuries defined his season, having suffered a hemopneumothorax along with fracturing his right hand, left foot and hand, plus breaking his collarbone and 11 ribs.
Suffering a hemopneumothorax and 11 broken ribs in the Qatar Grand Prix even saw Martin reconsider his commitment to Aprilia. Martin agreed a three-year contract with Honda after trying to use a release clause in his Aprilia contract, which the Noale squad refused to allow.
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