Marco Bezzecchi
Aprilia have found a loophole in the 2026 MotoGP regulations and designed a fluidic switch that Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin have to manually operate on the bike.
The 2026 MotoGP season starts this weekend in Buriram, with Bezzecchi widely expected to be one of the leading contenders for the riders’ title. Aprilia finished 2025 with arguably the best bike in the field and have worked hard through the winter to further develop the RS-GP.
Aprilia’s work during the winter saw Bezzecchi set a new lap record at the 2026 Buriram test last weekend, as he topped the overall timesheets with a 1:28.668. Trackhouse ace Ai Ogura even had the best race pace aboard his satellite RS-GP, with an average lap time of 1:30.101.
The Sepang test at the start of February also saw Aprilia unveil a rear wing upgrade that the Italian factory hopes will create dirty air for the riders behind Bezzecchi and Martin. And the Noale outfit have gone even further with their new aero package, by adding a fluidic switch.
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Aprilia have designed a rider-operated switch to improve their straight-line speed
That is according to The Race, which reports that Aprilia have ‘found a loophole’ in the 2026 MotoGP regulations that outlaw active adjustability. The Noale natives are believed to have found a way to change how the air flows over the RS-GP with a rider-operated fluidic switch.
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Aprilia first trialled the device at the Sepang test, and are set to keep it for the 2026 season. Bezzecchi and Martin activate Aprilia’s ‘ingenious’ device by plugging a vent created on the top of the fairing with their forearms when tucked into the ‘optimum position’ on the bike.
How the riders interact with the vent affects the ground-effect that Aprilia created with their 2026 bike. Aprilia feel the part can improve the straight-line speed of the RS-GP, by reducing the ground-effect from their aero designed to improve how the bike behaves in the corners.
Aprilia are unlikely to see any rivals copy the device, too, as teams are only allowed to bring one aerodynamic upgrade during the season. The constructors are also already working on their 850cc bike for the 2027 regulations, so teams are unlikely to try to copy Aprilia, either.
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The Race adds that MotoGP is unlikely to ban Aprilia’s rider-operated solution, as well, given Bezzecchi and Martin must manually operate the device. Their riders are also already getting in the ideal position on the bike to maximise the RS-GP’s straight-line speed when it is used.
It remains to be seen how much of an effect Aprilia’s device actually has when used during a race. But any gains in terms of straight-line speed will justify the part, as Aprilia are currently losing speed owing to the ground-effect pressure from their parts to improve in the corners.
Bezzecchi seemed very comfortable on the RS-GP during pre-season testing, with the bike turning and stopping well. The bike’s performance in Sepang also saw Ducati ace Francesco Bagnaia U-turn on a move to Yamaha and agree to join Aprilia from 2027 next to Bezzecchi.
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