Marco Bezzecchi
Despite publicly suggesting otherwise, Aprilia have every reason to back Marco Bezzecchi over Jorge Martin in the race for the world championship.
Aprilia find themselves in a conundrum every team wishes to face. Both Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin are at the top of the championship standings to start this season.
With just four points between the two riders, it is still anyone’s championship to win. But the competition between the two riders could derail Aprilia’s momentum as time goes on.
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Aprilia might struggle to contain this difficult dynamic, given how competitive both riders are bound to be with a championship on the line.
Given Martin’s move to Yamaha next year, Aprilia are going to want Bezzecchi to win the world championship so they can hold on to the #1 plate number heading into 2027.
READ MORE: Lorenzo Savadori says Jorge Martin has a ‘frightening talent’ compared to Marco Bezzecchi at Aprilia
Neil Hodgson expects Aprilia to back Marco Bezzecchi over Jorge Martin if title race gets tight
In a column for TNT Sports previewing the Spanish Grand Prix, Neil Hodgson wrote about the intra-team battle between Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi this season.
He expects Aprilia to let the two riders fight it out. But should their title race still stay tight near the end of the season, Hodgson believes Aprilia will want to see Bezzecchi win to keep hold of the championship bike plate.
“Right now, for Aprilia, this is a nice problem to have. Martin was their No. 1 last season, but injury and the contract spat won’t have helped, and the fact he’s leaving at the end of the season means that Martin’s place as senior rider has come unstuck.
“Bezzecchi is No. 1, and Martin missed testing, so the bike and team are now set up for the Italian.
“They won’t be hindering Martin, not at all, but if we get to the end of the season, and it’s tight between those two, Aprilia is not going to give up that No. 1 plate and see it ride off to another manufacturer.”
READ MORE: Massimo Rivola pinpoints exactly where ’sensitive’ Marco Bezzecchi still needs to improve
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Neil Hodgson says Marco Bezzecchi must survive Marc Marquez test in championship pursuit
Writing further in his column, Neil Hodgson admitted that Bezzecchi is entering rarefied air as a rider and will have to endure a tough fight from Marc Marquez if he wants to win the world championship.
“The season’s leader so far, Marco Bezzecchi, is now entering a new stage of his career, and it could be a defining one.
“This is a test of character. It’s one thing winning races, one thing leading a championship, but it’s another matter entirely to win a MotoGP world championship.
“That’s not easy at all, but it’s another calibre of challenge when you’re up against Marc Marquez. We will find out what Bezzecchi is made of – and so will he.”
As things stand, Marquez is still a ways behind Bezzecchi in the standings. But the legendary Spanish rider cannot be ruled out yet, and will pose a threat to the Italian this year.
This season is make-or-break for Bezzecchi as a championship-calibre rider. If he wants to walk away with the championship, he needs to make sure he can get it done when it counts.
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