Aprilia’s CEO Massimo Rivola aims to secure a strong position against MotoGP legend Marc Marquez by at least one victory in the 2025 season, with the squad focusing on proving its dominance over Ducati’s reigning champion. Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia’s rookie rider, narrowly missed out on finishing behind Ducati in the recent San Marino Grand Prix, only missing by 0.568 seconds after a grueling battle with his factory bike. This moment marked a turning point for the team, as Bezzecchi won the British Red-Flag Race (Silverstone) in May, where he became the first non-Ducati rider to achieve podium success in dry conditions this year. However, the Silverstone race also highlighted Marquez’s off-season struggles and setbacks, including a rare weekend off and a breakdown by Yamaha’s lead rider, Fabio Quartararo. Additionally, Marquez’s dominant run at Aragon has already seen him win eight grand prix races and numerous sprint victories in nine weekends. Rivola’s goal is to use Bezzecchi’s performance at Misano to inspire the entire Noale team, aiming to surpass Marquez in the final rounds of the 2025 season. Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, will again challenge both riders in this upcoming race. He emphasizes that despite current shortcomings, there is still a chance to compete and push further. The team also plans to focus on producing consistent bikes across various tracks, as they have achieved podium success in three consecutive seasons but struggled to finish second in the constructors’ championship last year. While Aprilia has consistently delivered a well-rounded package, recent results suggest a shift in competitiveness, particularly on tracks that were previously competitive but now show signs of eroding that advantage. For example, their Barcelona outing recorded a 1-2 finish two years ago, indicating an improvement on certain circuits. Rivola is curious about Indonesia and Phillip Island to evaluate speed in fast corners, as he believes teams are becoming more closely aligned globally. The team also reflects on past successes, noting that while Aprilia has been successful in delivering a rounded package, its progress has weakened its ability to gain the edge it once had at specific circuits.
