Veteran MotoGP manager Carlo Pernat has expressed his view that the Aprilia RS-GP now outperforms the championship-winning Ducati, signaling a significant development in the ongoing Aprilia RS-GP vs Ducati rivalry. Pernat’s remarks follow a season filled with notable achievements and tight competition at the top of the manufacturers’ standings.
Ducati recently enjoyed one of its most successful MotoGP campaigns to date, capturing all three world titles and winning 17 out of 22 grand prix races. Marc Marquez contributed 11 victories, which helped him secure his seventh championship title, and his first with the factory Ducati squad.
Ducati Triumphs but Faces Challenges Ahead
Despite the string of victories and overall success, the 2025 edition of the Ducati proved less reliable for riders like Pecco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Both had rollercoaster seasons, with Bagnaia earning only two wins compared to his remarkable 11 the previous year. In that earlier season, he had finished as the runner-up for the championship, demonstrating a stark contrast in fortunes between the two years.
Aprilia, meanwhile, achieved its best MotoGP performance yet, notching four wins using the 2025 RS-GP and claiming second place in the manufacturers’ table. The second half of Aprilia’s campaign was particularly impressive, as the team consistently raced at the front with Ducati and Marc Marquez, fueling the expectation that Aprilia could contend for the championship title in 2026.
Pernat’s Assessment of Aprilia’s Progress
Carlo Pernat acknowledged that Marc Marquez contributed significantly to Ducati’s dominance this year, yet he cast doubt on whether Ducati’s current formula will ensure future success against Aprilia. As Pernat shared with Telenord,
“Ducati won’t be able to sleep soundly,”
— Carlo Pernat, Rider Manager
He further commented on Aprilia’s accelerated improvement:
“Let’s be clear: Marc Marquez made the difference. However, I don’t know if next year will be enough, and not for just one reason.”
— Carlo Pernat, Rider Manager
Pernat pointed out that while the overall standings show Aprilia in second place, Álex Marquez, riding a GP24 Ducati, finished ahead. Pernat argued that based on performance, the current RS-GP may already be superior to Ducati’s Desmosedici.
Marco Bezzecchi’s Exceptional Season Shines
In addition to analyzing Aprilia’s gains, Pernat also highlighted Marco Bezzecchi’s remarkable run during the 2025 campaign. Bezzecchi claimed two victories and finished third overall, prompting Pernat to label his performance as “astonishing.”
“He’s grown incredibly; you can see that seriousness in his eyes, that desire to work and improve that, in all his years of competition, I’ve seen in very few.”
— Carlo Pernat, Rider Manager
Pernat remarked on Bezzecchi’s continued development and drive, features he believes set the young rider apart from many peers in the sport.
The Road Ahead for Aprilia, Ducati, and Their Rivals
The results and opinions from this year’s MotoGP season indicate that the competitive balance between Aprilia and Ducati is shifting. While Marc Marquez’s outstanding performance gave Ducati the edge, increasing momentum for Aprilia with their RS-GP signals a tighter contest in the next season. Observers are now looking to see whether Aprilia can sustain this challenge and potentially dethrone Ducati in 2026, making the future of the Aprilia RS-GP vs Ducati battle all the more compelling for fans, riders, and teams alike.
