Aprilia has unveiled its latest MotoGP bike, aiming to challenge Ducati’s dominance in the sport. Marco Bezzecchi emerges as Aprilia’s strongest contender against reigning world champion Marc Marquez, especially after a notable finish to last season marked by multiple race wins. The upcoming season sets the stage for a high-stakes rivalry focused on the Marc Marquez challenge.
Rivola Highlights the Pressure of Growing Expectations on Bezzecchi
Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia, admits that the team’s recent improvements coincided with Marquez’s absence due to injury, making it hard to fully assess their competitive standing. The 2025 season was Aprilia’s best since becoming a factory team, but the gains have also raised new demands on the riders.
Rivola stresses that Bezzecchi must learn to cope with the heightened expectations if he wants to close the gap and compete at the very top. While Bezzecchi has consistently reached podiums across different classes, this season’s ambitions require him to mature in how he handles pressure and scrutiny.
“With a number 93 on track, honestly I don’t know,”
Rivola said when asked about Aprilia’s chances against Ducati and Marquez. “Last year we won the final races, but Marc was not on track.
“We must have respect for everyone but fear no one, so the famous phrase that I already said when [Aleix] Espargaro won in Argentina remains the same: work and believe. That’s the only thing we have to do, remembering that we can be lions for everyone.”
– Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia
“We don’t know what others have done this winter, but we know we worked very well. I think Marco, to make his final step, must learn to manage expectations – that will be one of the keys.” – Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia
Rivola Reflects on Bezzecchi’s Potential After Misano Duel
The rivalry between Bezzecchi and Marquez intensified at Misano, where both riders secured victories in different races. During the Sprint, Marquez crashed while battling Bezzecchi, only to redeem himself by winning the Grand Prix later that weekend by less than a second.
Following the event, Bezzecchi apologized to Rivola for narrowly missing out on first place behind Marquez, a gesture that impressed the Aprilia CEO and reinforced his belief in Bezzecchi’s capabilities. Rivola considers this moment a milestone pointing to what Bezzecchi and Aprilia can achieve together.
“At Misano he apologised to me for having finished second like that behind Marc… well, that is a sign that together we can do great things.” – Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia
The new RS-GP bike features a bold design and will undergo further updates ahead of pre-season testing in Malaysia, setting the scene for another intense campaign. As Aprilia prepares for the challenges ahead, the Marc Marquez challenge remains a driving force for the team and Bezzecchi’s growth as a top contender in MotoGP.
