The ApriliaMotoGP Catalunya weekend disappointment unfolded as a tough and frustrating event for Aprilia Racing, who competed at Montmeló with hopes for a stronger performance. Despite managing to place two RS-GP25 bikes within the top ten, team principal Massimo Rivola expressed clear dissatisfaction with the overall outcome, emphasizing the gap between expectations and results.
From the outset, Aprilia struggled to find effective setups for their machines. Rivola revealed the difficulties faced from the initial practice session, noting the need for continual adjustments to the RS-GP25. The challenging start set the tone for a weekend that fell short of the team’s ambitions and left both the staff and fans disappointed.
Key Incidents Affecting Aprilia Riders and Their Performances
The weekend’s challenges were compounded by unfortunate incidents impacting Aprilia’s riders. Marco Bezzecchi’s chances were abruptly ended on the second lap after a crash caused by Franco Morbidelli at Turn 1, an incident Rivola described as a “real waste.”Lorenzo Savadori, competing as a wild-card to help develop Aprilia’s bike, also faced significant hurdles. After receiving a double long lap penalty for a prior infraction, Savadori battled hard but eventually lost control with just four laps remaining.
Rivola openly lamented Bezzecchi’s incident, emphasizing the lost opportunity given the rider’s pace:
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“It’s a true shame for Marco, who was knocked down by other riders when we knew he had the pace to compete.”
—Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing Team Principal
Positive Moments and Performances Highlighted Amid Difficulties
Although the weekend was mostly disappointing, there were moments of promise for Aprilia. Jorge Martín’s strong comeback from a 17th place start to finish tenth showcased resilience and hinted at potential progress for the team. Meanwhile, in the satellite Trackhouse team, Ai Ogura made a significant impact with an impressive sixth-place finish, while Raúl Fernández contributed by securing eleventh place.
Rivola praised Ogura’s results, acknowledging the rider’s impressive performance and ability to maximize the new technical specifications of the RS-GP25:
“I’m happy to see Ogura with such a fantastic performance—kudos to him.”
—Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing Team Principal
Preparing for Redemption at Misano Following the Catalan Setbacks
As the team closes its chapter in Barcelona, Aprilia Racing is shifting focus to the next challenge at Misano, where they will race on home soil. Rivola expressed optimism mixed with determination to improve the team’s performance and correct the shortcomings experienced in Catalunya:
“We head to Misano very motivated, especially in front of our home crowd.”
—Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing Team Principal
With the disappointment in Catalunya behind them, Aprilia faces the crucial task of learning from the weekend’s errors and unlocking the untapped potential of their riders and machinery. Under Rivola’s leadership, the team aims to emerge stronger and more competitive, ready to reclaim a spot among the top contenders in the fiercely competitive world of MotoGP racing.
