Marco Bezzecchi
Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola has been critical of Jorge Martin’s performances of late, but he was singing his praises at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The 2024 champion has come under fire at Aprilia a few times in 2026. After shoving Paolo Bonora in the garage in Barcelona, Martin wiped out both factory Aprilias and Raul Fernandez at Balaton Park at the first corner.
In response to the crash, Rivola said Martin did not ride like a champion. Such a public criticism was something he later regretted, but it was clear that tensions were arising between the parties – they were squashed at Assen.
Marco Bezzecchi escaped significant injury after this HEAVY crash at Assen. What do you think about his title chances now?
Massimo Rivola saw Jorge Martin riding like someone who knows how to manage a championship at Assen
Martin responded to Rivola’s comments, stating that he perhaps did not understand the situation due to his lack of riding experience.
The Spaniard was critical of the team again after Brno, as Aprilia defended Marco Bezzecchi over his suspension for slapping a marshal. Martin called for Aprilia to support him in the same way should a similar event occur.
But any criticism was gone at the Dutch Grand Prix as the Noale outfit dominated the weekend. Martin took pole position, but he had no response for the Trackhouse riders, with Raul Fernandez winning the Sprint and Ai Ogura winning Sunday’s race.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Jorge Martin from net worth to girlfriend
Rivola praised Martin for realising that P3 was the best he could have hoped for on Sunday and did not push harder than he needed to. In his eyes, it is how someone who knows how to manage a championship should act.
Asked if a reconciliation with Martin is ‘real’ after his statements ahead of the weekend, Rivola told Motorsport Espana: “Of course.
“First of all, we all make mistakes. And in Hungary, what I said is that a world champion doesn’t make those kinds of mistakes because he knows how to manage a world championship, which is exactly what he’s done here.
The top five are now separated by just 40 points! Who is your pick for the 2026 title?
“A pole position that only he could achieve, relying on his talent because he wasn’t the fastest. In the race he was perfect, he had a good start and was leading, but when he saw the Trackhouse bikes catching up he didn’t do anything crazy to stay ahead, he understood that finishing third was good.
“That’s the approach a driver who knows how to win a World Championship should take.”
Martin now leads the riders’ standings after Bezzecchi’s heavy crash. He holds a seven-point lead over his teammate and a 40-point lead over reigning champion Marc Marquez in fifth.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
