In the final day of testing at Sepang, Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, reviewed the first three days of the season’s preparations and outlined the manufacturer’s plans for 2027. With the Aprilia MotoGP 2027 plans well underway, Rivola emphasized the importance of the knowledge gained so far in shaping the next generation of motorcycles, especially regarding engine, aerodynamics, and chassis development.
Confirming Marco Bezzecchi as a Foundation for Development
Aprilia has secured a multi-year contract with Marco Bezzecchi, highlighting the strong connection between rider and team. Rivola stated,
“From a technical point of view, 2027 is something quite different. But everything we have learned so far will be very useful for next year’s bike. As far as engine knowledge is concerned, we have seen that there is a lot of know-how that can be transferred to the new bike. The same applies to aerodynamics and the chassis. As for the riders, I believe that confirming Marco so early shows that there was something special about the Bezzecchi-Aprilia pairing from the start. We have also seen his ability to give us feedback for the development of the bike, so he will be an important part of the development of the new bike,”
revealing satisfaction with the renewal.
Rivola expressed his confidence in Bezzecchi’s commitment and approach, saying,
“We are happy. It took the pressure off Marco, and continuing with him was our priority because we have seen his commitment and we are also quite comfortable with his working method. We can’t say it was love at first sight when it comes to our engagement with Bez because we had already flirted a bit a few years ago. But this pairing deserved to move forward in a positive way, as we have done, because it gives an idea of the atmosphere that exists, which is quite unique.”
Approach to Selecting the Second Rider Amidst a Competitive Market
While Bezzecchi’s position is secure, Aprilia remains cautious about confirming their second rider amidst a turbulent market.
“As for the other rider, we’ll see. There’s no rush, even though the market is quite crazy. Our priority was Marco, and now we can work for the future,”
Rivola noted. He further explained,
“It’s too early to answer that: once we’ve set our priority, we’ll see how the market evolves. Clearly, there will be riders who will soon disappear from the market because other teams have their priorities, but I can’t give an answer at the moment. There are some interesting scenarios, and I believe that if Aprilia continues to show that it is improving and knows how to make fast bikes, good riders will come.”
When asked about potentially fielding an all-Italian lineup, he hinted playfully,
“Did you see that (in the video of the wedding with Bezzecchi, ed.) I had the mayor’s sash with the flag…?”
Bezzecchi’s Growth and Expectations for the Upcoming Season
Rivola outlined the steady improvements Bezzecchi has made, emphasizing a holistic advancement in and out of the pits.
“In my opinion, he has improved a little bit everywhere: both inside and outside the pits, on the flying lap and in the race. I think this year will be a sort of litmus test for him, because there are more expectations. I hope he takes that final step in managing expectations, which is usually the aspect that trips everyone up a bit. I hope we can all do it together, because the great thing about Marco is that everything we do, we do together,”
he said, reflecting on the rider’s evolving role and growing responsibility within the team.
Challenges and Opportunities in Adapting to 2027 Regulations
Looking forward to 2027, Rivola acknowledged that adapting to new regulations will require both innovation and careful integration of existing knowledge.
“There are a number of issues. The first is tyres, which can greatly disrupt current knowledge. On this front, there will be a lot to learn. As for what we have learned, we are trying to understand what the new targets are in terms of horsepower, aerodynamic values, etc., and we are aiming for those, but this is a company that achieves its goals very quickly. I believe this is Aprilia Racing’s great strength,”
he remarked.
He added that the process will not be about risky gambles but precise objectives:
“In my opinion, in 2027, it’s not about taking risks, but about the knowledge we’ve learned: if we take the bike from five years ago and compare it to the current one, it looks like an airplane with wheels. I don’t think it’s a question of taking risks, but of hitting the right targets. We’ll have to figure out what those are. For example, will it be important to have a lot of aerodynamic drag when braking or to be efficient? These are all things that the engineers are studying.”
Positive Developments in the 2026 Bike and Competitive Outlook
Current testing at Sepang revealed improvements in Aprilia’s 2026 bike, with all riders reporting positive feedback. Rivola noted,
“I’m definitely happy that the 2026 bike is better than the previous one. This shows once again that Noale is a company capable of making great bikes, but also of improving performance every year. However, we can only work on ourselves and our bike, and we have seen that everyone has improved.”
Assessing the championship landscape, he acknowledged Ducati’s strength:
“I believe Ducati is still the benchmark. We saw a very convincing simulation from Pecco. I’m happy that he’s back to being so strong here. This is a track that Alex Marquez really likes and where he has been very fast. It is also a track where Honda does a lot of testing and where it has been very fast, and KTM has also improved on last year. So, I think it will be a pretty interesting championship and you will have a lot of fun watching the races. The leader remains the same, but we will be right behind him.”
Uncertainty Over Aprilia’s Relative Performance Gap
Despite optimism, Rivola remained cautious when discussing Aprilia’s current distance from Ducati, the reigning champion.
“I can’t say yet whether we are closer, further away, or the same distance as last year. We still have to wait and see, because in testing it’s always difficult to say how many laps a tyre had, or how much fuel was in a tank. Pecco did a simulation that meant we could all go home and meet again in 2027,”
he shared with a lighthearted tone.
He continued,
“We definitely have a better bike than last year, which wasn’t bad, so we can’t help but be optimistic,”
affirming a positive outlook despite the uncertainties inherent in preseason testing.
Upcoming Testing Plans and Technical Developments
Aprilia plans to finalize the majority of its bike package in the next testing phase but is preparing incremental updates for future sessions.
“I think tonight (Thursday, ed.) we will establish 80-90% of the package, but once we have analyzed everything at home, we will bring some small details to Thailand for the very latest development,”
Rivola confirmed.
He noted the upcoming track’s unique characteristics:
“We know we have a pretty good base, and Thailand is a rather different track in terms of aerodynamics and characteristics, being more of a Stop & Go track, so we’ll have something extra.”
Aprilia’s Steady Evolution and Team Dynamics
Rivola confidently pointed to Aprilia’s consistent yearly advancements despite the challenges of new regulations.
“If I look at Aprilia’s history, every year it has made a better bike. In the case of 2027, it will be difficult due to the change in regulations, but I say every year that the next bike will be better, because I see the quality of the company, the way we are structured, and the level of the people,”
he explained.
“So, I had no doubt that the 2026 bike would be better. Also because the numbers say so in the simulations, and we are starting to have reliable numbers and a good correlation in this,”
he added, underscoring confidence in the team’s technical expertise and structured approach.
Regarding rider feedback, Rivola observed a unity of experience:
“The riders explain things differently, but in the end, the comments are almost the same, and that helps us a lot. We have four factory bikes on the track with good riders, and I must say that I’m also quite happy with Trackhouse: Ai is no longer a rookie, and Raul is ready to deliver good performances.”
Jorge Martin’s Recovery and Role within the Team
Jorge Martin did not participate in the Sepang testing but remains an important figure within the squad. Rivola commented,
“First of all, it was good to have him here. So that he could understand, at least through the data, the new bike and the difference between the two. Obviously, what you learn by riding is very different, but he will take to the track if he feels well, because that is one of the priorities.”
He added,
“Even though we know that the first races will be difficult for him, the season is long, and at Aprilia, we want to see him at 100%,”
emphasizing the team’s long-term support and patience as Martin recovers and integrates back into competitive form.
