Marco Bezzecchi
Massimo Rivola remains wary that Marc Marquez and Ducati will fight back even after Aprilia extended their winning streak in the USA. Marco Bezzecchi made it five victories on the bounce with a dominant victory at the Circuit of the Americas.
It was Aprilia’s first clean sweep of the season as Jorge Martin won the Sprint and Bezzecchi led a one-two in the main Grand Prix. Just four points separate the two at the top of the standings, with the Italian slightly ahead.
The gap to third-place Pedro Acosta has grown to 17 points but, perhaps more importantly, reigning champion Marquez is now 36 off the pace after finishing a difficult weekend in fifth place.
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It is Aprilia's to lose already?
Massimo Rivola reflects on Aprilia win in Marc Marquez ‘land’
In the lead-up to this weekend’s race, Rivola had described Austin as Marquez’s ‘house’. The 33-year-old has won seven times at this circuit.
Marquez suffered a ‘terrible crash’ during practice, and Rivola suspects that this had a knock-on effect throughout the weekend. He says Aprilia still haven’t beaten the best version of the seven-time world champion.
The team boss is eager for his team to capitalise before the inevitable moment when Ducati and Marquez hit back. The only concern at this stage is that Bezzecchi’s crashes have cost him critical points.
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Does he deserve more respect?
“We said that this is Marc land,” Rivola told TNT Sports in the pit lane. “I think he had a terrible Friday with a terrible crash.
“I still don’t think we see real Marc. I don’t know where the problems are coming from, but I know that he will solve the problems soon, so it’s better to get a bit of an advantage now, because there are still 38 races to come. He will come, Ducati will come.
“Good to celebrate today because we deserve it, but not too much from tomorrow.”
‘We have an opportunity’ – Massimo Rivola on Aprilia title chances
Rivola was also asked how Aprilia will balance their title ambitions with their preparations for the 2027 season, when the regulations will be overhauled.
He has vowed to ‘keep pushing’ with the 1000cc concept but is confident that this won’t adversely affect the 850cc project. Aprilia can’t compete with Ducati or the two Japanese powerhouses when it comes to resources, but that doesn’t seem to be hurting them this year.
“It’s clear that this year, we have an opportunity,” he said. “I don’t want to lose that opportunity. We keep pushing a bit more with the current bike.
“At the same time, we have a group that is working on an 850. We will see the next three, four races.
“Clearly, we have to push with the 850 in case we start a bit later than our competitors. I’m super optimistic because our time to market, our speed in the factory, our reaction time is very, very fast. We are really a racing company, and this is why I’m so confident.”
After a break in the season, the European campaign begins with the Spanish GP at Jerez. Based on precedent, the true pecking order should start to emerge in the next ‘three, four races’, as Rivola hinted.
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