Marco Melandri has stressed the importance of Aprilia clearly defining their number one rider as the 2026 MotoGP season gets underway. After an impressive performance at the Thailand Grand Prix, where Aprilia secured four riders in the top five, Melandri believes setting a hierarchy within the team is crucial to avoid internal competition disrupting their championship ambitions.
The season opener in Thailand saw Marco Bezzecchi recover from a crash in the Sprint Race to dominate the main event from flag to flag. His teammates Raul Fernandez finished third, Jorge Martin placed fourth, and Ai Ogura came in fifth, underscoring Aprilia’s emergence as a leading manufacturer in the championship.
Melandri Emphasizes the Need for a Defined Team Order to Protect Bezzecchi’s Momentum
During the Chiacchiere da Box discussion, former MotoGP race winner Marco Melandri highlighted the necessity for Aprilia to make it clear who leads the team. He pointed out that Bezzecchi is currently at his peak form and warned that if Jorge Martin pushes him too hard in upcoming rounds, it could unsettle him.
Melandri commented,
“Bezzecchi is on a roll right now, so I would try to make sure Martin doesn’t make him nervous. In my opinion, the fact that there is a first and second rider will be fundamental. Aprilia now need to optimise.”
He added that despite Aprilia’s past struggles on the Thailand track, their current performance proves they have closed the gap to the front across the board. Melandri continued,
“It’s an opportunity at the world championship this year that mustn’t be wasted, and if I were Rivola, I’d be thinking about the world championship.”
Bezzecchi Positioned as Aprilia’s Best Hope to Rival Ducati’s Dominance
Following this opening round, it is evident that Marco Bezzecchi offers Aprilia a real chance to challenge Ducati’s supremacy if he maintains his strong pace. MotoGP agent Carlo Pernat described Bezzecchi’s performance as “stratospheric” and identifies him as the only genuine contender to stand against Ducati in 2026.
Despite this optimism, Aprilia’s CEO Massimo Rivola has sought to temper expectations for the remainder of the season. After the Grand Prix, Rivola pointed to Marc Marquez as the key competitor to beat, even as Bezzecchi secured a commanding victory at the start of the year.
Future Implications for Team Dynamics and Championship Prospects
With Aprilia’s riders performing strongly, the question now is how the team manages internal competition to sustain their momentum. Establishing Marco Bezzecchi as the unequivocal leading rider could prevent tensions and preserve focus on their title challenge. Aprilia’s ability to optimize resources and strategy around Bezzecchi will be critical to converting their promising start into a successful championship campaign.
The season is still young, but how Aprilia handles its rider hierarchy could determine whether Bezzecchi’s surge becomes a sustained title fight or gets derailed by team rivalries and pressure.
