Aprilia is setting its sights on a major achievement for the 2026 MotoGP season: to Beat Marc Marquez in MotoGP and overcome the continued dominance of Ducati. With a renewed approach, the team aims to challenge both established leaders and the formidable Marc Marquez, following a season marked by rivalries and setbacks.
Aprilia Shifts Focus After Tough 2025 Season
The 2025 MotoGP campaign highlighted the difficulty of toppling Ducati and the unique challenge presented by Marc Marquez. Aprilia’s determination was further steeled after a pivotal moment when factory rider Marco Bezzecchi’s error led to Marquez missing the final four races due to injury, affecting both riders’ tally for the season. Despite missing out on what could have been two Grand Prix victories, Bezzecchi ended his debut year with Aprilia in third place while still trailing Marquez by a significant 192 points. Meanwhile, Marquez, the recently crowned champion, maintained dominance by securing 25 wins out of his first 36 races and finished 78 points ahead of his brother, Alex Marquez, despite missing key rounds.
Throughout the second half of the season, Bezzecchi outscored every other competitor. However, the caveat remained that Marc Marquez, a formidable presence on the grid, had been sidelined. Ducati further underscored their dominance by clinching the constructors’ championship with a commanding 350-point margin over Aprilia.
Key Incidents That Shaped the Championship Battle
Several crucial incidents influenced the championship outcomes. Bezzecchi was heavily favored in Indonesia but lost out after serving a double long-lap penalty for the Mandalika tangle, and in Australia’s Phillip Island, he narrowly missed victory to Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez. Before the Mandalika incident, Bezzecchi achieved a landmark by becoming the first rider to defeat Marquez in a dry, error-free Grand Prix at Silverstone. The push continued, with intense battles against Marquez at Assen and Misano, and concluding with back-to-back Grand Prix victories at Portimao and Valencia.
Aprilia’s leadership remains confident about their potential, suggesting things could have played out differently had Marquez competed in the closing rounds.
“The target is clearly to beat Marc,”
stated Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO, when asked about the dual aim of surpassing both Ducati and Marc Marquez in the 2026 season. – Massimo Rivola, CEO
Rivola also referenced the impact of the season’s pivotal moments, adding,
“I’m super happy that Raul won in Australia. But we could be in a position [where Marco won those two races].”
– Massimo Rivola, CEO. Bezzecchi managed to claim wins in four of the final five rounds—excluding Sepang—demonstrating Aprilia’s upward momentum as 2026 approaches.
The 2026 Dream: Defeating an Unmatched Rival
Despite their gains, Aprilia recognizes the significance of going head-to-head with Marc Marquez at full strength.
“That’s a strong sign for the [2026] championship. But obviously, it was without Marc present,”
noted Rivola, highlighting the importance of a fair face-off in the next campaign. – Massimo Rivola, CEO. Looking ahead, Rivola emphasized,
“We know that Marc is also special, but the target is to beat Marc in 2026.”
– Massimo Rivola, CEO. The return of Marquez at peak form raises the stakes for every team and rider eager to claim the MotoGP crown.
Technical Landscape and Team Developments for 2026
MotoGP manufacturers, including Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia, are dealing with restricted engine development due to regulations that began at the start of the previous season. Massimo Rivola does not foresee dramatic shifts in performance, explaining that,
“We don’t know how much the others will develop the bike for next season. But the expectation for everybody, I would say for ‘26, apart from Yamaha with a completely different [V4] bike, is to be more or less in a similar position,”
– Massimo Rivola, CEO. Despite technical parity, Rivola cautioned that even slight improvements can have a big impact on race outcomes.
He observed that,
“Marco showed he was super good in overtaking and getting positions back in those situations, but still, you destroy the tyres. So it’s a different race.”
– Massimo Rivola, CEO. The ability to make incremental progress and optimize strategies will be crucial as every fraction of a second on the track counts in the coming season.
Bezzecchi, alongside his teammate Jorge Martin (who missed much of last year due to injury), will officially reveal Aprilia’s 2026 factory team livery in Milan on January 15. Concurrently, MotoGP’s defending champion, Marc Marquez, is expected to make his competitive comeback at the Sepang test session from February 3 to 5, setting the stage for an intense season opener.
What Lies Ahead for Aprilia and MotoGP Competitors
The dynamic of the upcoming MotoGP season is poised for excitement, heightened by Aprilia’s explicit plan to Beat Marc Marquez in MotoGP 2026. The competition will heat up as returning stars like Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Jorge Martin, Raul Fernandez, and teams such as Ducati and KTM, seek to capitalize on technological developments and past experiences. The upcoming team launches, testing events in Sepang, and head-to-head showdowns throughout the year will further define who holds the advantage and whether Aprilia’s ambition to dethrone both Ducati and Marc Marquez can be realized.
