Marco Bezzecchi
Aprilia are enjoying a high that they have never experienced before in MotoGP in 2026. The project is almost unrecognisable today from what it once was.
The Noale outfit joined MotoGP in 2022, with the team winning their first race at just their third Grand Prix through Aleix Espargaro in Argentina. Up until 2025, further wins were hard to come by.
In fact, Aprilia only won three races between Espargaro’s victory and the start of the 2025 season. The factory were struggling to fight regularly at the front, and it severely damaged the morale around the camp.
Here’s the MotoGP championship standings after the United States GP!
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But in 2025, Aprilia turned a corner, as Marco Bezzecchi led a charge with the RS-GP and won three races, including the last two races of the season. He has continued that form in 2026, winning the opening three races and becoming the third rider of the modern era to win five races in a row.
After the United States Grand Prix, in which Jorge Martin won the Sprint, and his first race for the team, and Bezzecchi won the GP, Aprilia lead all three championship standings, with Bezzecchi holding a four-point lead over Martin.
Aprilia will not use team orders during the title fight, with both riders having a clear chance of winning the title. Conversations like this were almost impossible to imagine when the team first started in MotoGP.
Aprilia were ‘ashamed’ of their MotoGP team as they accepted being at the back
Speaking via the #ZamTube YouTube channel with journalist Giovanni Zamagni, colleague Manuel Pecino recalled how Aprilia viewed their project as a ‘disgrace’. Mechanics were ‘ashamed’ to turn up to races, feeling as if they were at the back of the grid.
“And I have to say something. Do you remember that not so many years ago, the mechanics from the Aprilia team would arrive at the circuit looking downcast, as if we were the last ones, as if it were a disgrace,” he said.
“Ashamed, ashamed. Yes, yes. I remember perfectly well that they’d arrive without making a sound, as if to say, ‘We’re here, we’re the last in the line-up.’
“And look at this fantastic work now. I don’t think it’s appreciated enough, but Rivola has gradually managed to turn a team that was ashamed of itself into a team like this one, which is proud of who they are.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Aprilia from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy
Max Biaggi celebrates ‘phenomenal’ Aprilia progress as Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin lead the championship
Aprilia’s progress has been nothing short of remarkable, and a change of the tide in MotoGP could be on the horizon after years of Ducati dominance. Yet, ambassador and MotoGP legend Max Biaggi is not getting too excited.
“It’s a phenomenal moment, and seeing the Aprilia riders in first and second place is something we’ve been dreaming about for a long time,” he told AS after the United States GP.
“It has to be said that in these first three races, we’ve always seen them up front, first and second, second and third. Seeing them there is a reward for all the effort and work they put in at home, and for the technology, which is constantly improving.
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“Aprilia has done an excellent job, the riders too, and I hope they continue like this this year because I’d like to see this bike dominate the season.
“Well, judging by the first three races, it certainly seems like we’re seeing a change, doesn’t it? We have two exceptional riders, very strong, motivated, and they’ve found their bike right now.
“I don’t know, we’ll go back to Europe, to Jerez, and from there we’ll also assess the competition, because I’m sure they won’t be resting on their laurels, but rather improving. We’ll see if we can get back to our level, but right now there’s a lot of joy, so let’s enjoy the moment.”
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