Massimo Rivola and Aprilia find themselves on the back foot despite leading the constructors’ championship this season.
Rivola announced ‘Black Rules’ for Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi earlier in the season when both were neck-and-neck in the championship race.
But Marc Marquez’s return to form has impacted both riders, as they haven’t delivered the results needed to keep their place in the championship standings.
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Rivola defended Aprilia’s slump in form after Marquez managed to outperform them in several races, but things have gotten out of hand for them.
But the threat for Aprilia is no longer just Marc Marquez. They have a bigger reason for abandoning the Black Rules between Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.
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Aprilia must prioritise Jorge Martin over Marco Bezzecchi in title race
Since Marc Marquez’s return, Marco Bezzecchi has had a terrible run of form, losing his lead in the championship race and suffering a crash that derailed his momentum.
In his absence, Jorge Martin has managed to take the lead in the championship, but he does have Ai Ogura and Marc Marquez chasing him down.
Bezzecchi is currently 22 points behind Martin and fourth in the standings behind Marc Marquez. Realistically, he is still in the championship race.
But Aprilia must prioritise winning the championship, and the best way to do that is to favour Martin over Bezzecchi going forward.
Martin has been underperforming despite his championship lead, but backing him gives them the best chance to win the drivers’ championship.
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Aprilia also need strong results to retain lead in constructors’ championship
It isn’t just the drivers’ championship that is in jeopardy for Aprilia. Their lead in the constructors’ championship has also dwindled, as Ducati are now just 11 points behind them.
In recent races, Aprilia have been bailed out by Trackhouse, as Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez’s uptick in form has secured valuable points for the team.
While Davide Brivio is unsure about Ogura’s title hopes clashing with Martin and Aprilia, given their status as a satellite team, their performances have been pivotal in the constructors’ championship standings.
When the season resumes at the end of the summer break, Aprilia must ensure that their factory team are delivering at a high level just like Trackhouse.
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