The opening weekend of the MotoGP season in Thailand firmly established Aprilia as the dominant manufacturer on the grid, showcasing remarkable performance at the Buriram circuit. Despite expectations based on pre-season testing, the Noale-based team’s overwhelming success surprised many, with all four of its RS-GP motorcycles finishing among the top five.
Aprilia’s Exceptional Performance Surprises Observers
Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia, highlighted the clear superiority of their bikes, emphasizing how MotoGP star Marco Bezzecchi quickly proved to be the fastest rider from the very start. Rivola shared,
“The results are quite clear, as is the fact that, from day one, Bezzecchi was clearly the fastest on the track. Marc Marquez said so, so I believe it!”
Despite some setbacks such as Bezzecchi’s crash and Marquez’s rim issue, Rivola remained confident about Aprilia’s progress, explaining,
“Strangely, Aprilia has the fastest bike. Why do I say strangely? Because we’ve never been so dominant here. Leaving aside the issue of tyre degradation, we saw four Aprilias in the top five. The performance was very good and, to be honest, we had also seen in testing that we could be very competitive.”
He also noted improvements at a historically challenging track, adding,
“At Sepang, which is a track where we have always struggled, we took a path that is working for now. It’s only the first race, the championship is very long, but it certainly makes us look ahead with some confidence.”
Reflecting on Sprint Race Challenges and Championship Prospects
The loss of points in the Sprint race was a bitter pill, especially since the potential to dominate was evident. Rivola expressed his disappointment but remained realistic about the championship’s difficulty.
“I’m disappointed with yesterday’s race: when you have the potential to go all-in, you have to do it. Otherwise, sooner or later you’ll think about what you’ve lost,”
he said.
He acknowledged the fierce competition, citing Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta as key contenders.
“Marc will be the rider to beat and Acosta, who we saw doing some circus tricks again today, will be there in every race, even if the KTM isn’t at the same level as the Italian bikes. I think it will be an interesting and challenging championship for everyone,”
Rivola observed.
Addressing Bezzecchi’s crash, Rivola praised the rider’s maturity:
“Bezzecchi is a very intelligent guy and he knows the mistake he made. There’s no need for me to scold him further. There will be times when he will be hard on himself and times when I will have to support him. Just like yesterday, even though I wanted to kill him,”
he added with a laugh.
Championship Ambitions and Team Spirit
Aprilia’s objective remains clear despite the strong season start. Rivola stated,
“Even though it’s the first race and I have to keep my feet on the ground, every year the goal is the World Championship title. As Bezzecchi said last year from the heart: ‘If you don’t come to fight to win, what are you here for? That has to be our spirit. With all the humility in the world and respect for everyone, I am convinced that no one else has the tools, and above all the people, that Aprilia has.”
While Aprilia surged, Ducati’s performance raised some questions, though Rivola declined to declare the Italian giants in trouble.
“The only one at the top from day one was Bezzecchi and Bagnaia,”
he remarked, adding,
“I don’t think Ducati was in trouble, but that Aprilia did something special on this track. We’ll see the reason in the next races, and if it’s simply a matter of having a complete package, that would obviously be good news for us.”
He highlighted Ducati’s struggles, especially with Bagnaia not making Q2, and praised Remy Gardner and other riders for tire management and overtaking skill to mitigate challenges during the race.
Individual Rider Performances Highlight Team Strength
Rivola praised each of Aprilia’s four riders for their remarkable performances on race day.
“I think all four of them did something special. Bezzecchi because he was already perfect and today he was flying; Martin because three weeks ago he could only ride a bike and he also missed a season; Fernandez because he was suffering with his shoulder this morning and Ogura because he recovered positions after a bad start, overtaking in places where you don’t usually pass. It’s a great satisfaction and I congratulate all four of them.”
Regarding expectation management, Rivola explained why new components are not expected despite the double podium:
“There are four identical bikes on the track, four official riders, and if there is anything different, it is due to the fact that when there are new parts, and only a few are brought, they are tested by the riders and then used by those who are super convinced.”
He also analyzed Raul Fernandez’s slightly slower top speed, noting,
“On the aerodynamic front, we’ll have to check his position on the bike, his weight, and his silhouette more closely. It’s a matter of playing with details, which make the difference.”
Martin’s Rapid Adaptation Signals Bright Future for Aprilia
Martin’s strong showing on the RS-GP is an encouraging sign for Aprilia’s development trajectory. Rivola described his recent progress as “frightening” but in a positive way, appreciating how quickly he adapted to the Thai circuit after a long absence from racing.
“It’s a sign, as he said, that the bike is a bit easier for everyone to ride: it turns well, brakes better, and is a bit calmer,”
he noted.
Looking ahead, Rivola shared optimism grounded in realistic expectations.
“Even though the perfect bike doesn’t exist, when I think about the future, I already know that the next one will be even better, even though it will be slower due to the regulations. Without taking anything away from the riders, with the talented people we have in Noale, coordinated by the super Sterlacchini, I believe that this Aprilia has a very bright future ahead of it. Not to mention a blue one.”
Balancing Enthusiasm with Pragmatism Among Aprilia Fans
When questioned about how enthusiastic Aprilia fans should be given the season’s start, Rivola acknowledged the excitement but advocated for cautious optimism. He stated,
“Fans are right to be excited: 10. The manager, who has to run a company and a team, has to have even more confidence in the work that has been done, telling the guys that they are good and that they are on the right track, but there should be little excitement.”
He reminded everyone of the journey the team has taken to reach this point:
“We must not forget where we came from and the path that has led us to improve the company and the bike every year and that has led us to be very competitive today.”
Efforts in Aerodynamics Key to Aprilia’s Success
Rivola emphasized the importance of aerodynamics in Aprilia’s recent advancements, calling their improvements crucial to the bike’s enhanced performance.
“I believe that since the middle of last season, the bike has been more easily adaptable to all circuits, while maintaining Aprilia’s usual DNA of being particularly fast in fast corners. It’s a good start,”
he said.
Elaborating on specific gains, he added,
“We have pushed hard on aerodynamics, but at the same time, we believe it is a matter of adjustments here and there, because it is the details that make the difference. You can see that the shape of the bike is quite different from last year, and as difficult as it is to get riders to accept a new aerodynamic package, every time we introduce something new in this area, it works. This means that our models work and that we are working better and better.”
Regarding Aprilia’s F-duct innovation, Rivola commented on the public and media interest, stating,
“I saw many journalists and photographers happy to see the bike up close, but if they copy us, it won’t be the first time. Controversy? I’m extremely relaxed because it’s perfectly legal. If they want to waste time on this, I can only be happy, because it means they won’t focus on more important things.”
Fabiano Sterlacchini’s Role in Accelerating Development
Fabiano Sterlacchini’s arrival to Aprilia has contributed significantly to the team’s rapid progress. Rivola noted,
“We mustn’t forget that he spent 20 years at Ducati and KTM, and with experiences like these, you know where you succeed and where you fail. We tried to focus only on what worked and on his experiments, and this certainly sped up the process.”
He praised Sterlacchini’s management style as well:
“Above all, I really like Fabiano’s approach because he is very transparent and tries to involve people and keep the group open to discussion, and these are fundamental aspects for a company.”
Preparing for Upcoming Races with Measured Confidence
Turning his attention to the next event in Brazil, Rivola tempered enthusiasm with pragmatism.
“Would I like us to race tomorrow? It doesn’t change much: enthusiasm doesn’t make the performance, even if it helps people work better. Then we need a little break to analyze our performance and that of others and why, even if we already think we know,”
he concluded.
As the MotoGP season progresses, Aprilia’s early dominance in Thailand shows promise but also highlights that the battle for the World Championship remains open and fiercely competitive.
