Following winter testing, the Aprilia RS-GP has earned recognition as a highly competitive motorcycle, occasionally matching the performance of the Ducati Desmosedici. By the end of the 2025 MotoGP season, Marco Bezzecchi had emerged as the frontrunner for the Aprilia team, boosted by his dominant victories in Portugal and Valencia. Raul Fernandez also made history by securing a win for the RS-GP in Australia, marking the first MotoGP victory for a privateer Aprilia rider. Despite these positive developments, technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini revealed a critical weakness looming over the team’s 2026 campaign.
Challenges in Rider Confidence and Performance Recovery
In an in-depth interview with Speedweek, Sterlacchini discussed the outlook for 2026 and the specific situation with Jorge Martin. Acknowledging Martin’s difficult previous season, the team approached his development carefully to help him regain confidence in the RS-GP. Sterlacchini noted,
“We adopted a different approach with him. We all know what a difficult season he had last year. For him, the goal was to regain confidence in his bike. His performance was very good at the Thailand tests, because after only a day and a half of testing, we were at the same level as the others. Without questioning Jorge’s talent, we must remain measured, because you can’t make up for a lost year overnight.”
Marco Bezzecchi’s Rising Momentum in the Team
The Aprilia base in Noale shows growing confidence in Bezzecchi, thanks to his impressive finish in 2025 and consistent collaboration with the team. Sterlacchini expressed strong belief in Bezzecchi’s potential, saying,
“I’m not surprised that he’s already strong in 2026, because we know Marco very well after a year of collaboration. His work ethic and insightful analyses are incredible. Thanks to him, we’ve improved both in lap times and overall pace. However, let’s be honest, Buriram’s characteristics aren’t ideal for us, as has happened before. But we are convinced that we have taken an important step.”
Identifying the RS-GP’s Critical Technical Weakness
The main issue affecting Aprilia’s performance emerged during testing in Thailand at the Buriram circuit. Sterlacchini pinpointed this vulnerability as related to “stop & go sections,” which involve heavy braking and accelerating from low speeds. He reported,
“We have identified a weak point: the stop & go sections (i.e., heavy braking and restarting from low speed). That’s where we’ve focused our efforts. We’ve made progress in this area. Pilot feedback and data analysis are positive. But now we need to do everything we can to close the gap with the others. We haven’t found the ideal solution yet. Out of 10, I’d give the RS-GP a 7.5.”
Implications for the 2026 Season and What Lies Ahead
This technical limitation presents a significant hurdle for Aprilia’s ambitions in the upcoming campaign, where consistency and minimizing weaknesses will be essential against strong competitors. With Marco Bezzecchi’s momentum and Raul Fernandez’s breakthrough win providing morale boosts, Aprilia is balancing hope with urgency to resolve the RS-GP performance issue. The resolution of these heavy braking and restarting challenges will likely shape the team’s ability to remain competitive in 2026 and beyond.
