Aprilia Racing has established internal guidelines for Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi as the two factory riders emerge as the leading contenders in the 2026 MotoGP title battle. Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola stressed that mutual respect will remain the key principle governing the rivalry after the French Grand Prix.
Martin’s victory at Le Mans reduced the championship gap between the Aprilia riders to just one point, reinforcing the growing perception that the 2026 title fight could become an internal contest within the Noale manufacturer. Aprilia’s competitive consistency across recent rounds, combined with its dominant 1-2-3 result in France, has strengthened its position as the current technical benchmark on the MotoGP grid.
The RS-GP’s main advantage this season has come from its ability to preserve rear tyre performance during long race runs. Compared to rival packages from Ducati and KTM, Aprilia has shown stronger pace stability in low-grip conditions and during the final stages of races. The bike’s aerodynamic efficiency and balanced chassis behaviour have also helped its riders maintain aggressive braking performance without suffering excessive tyre degradation.
Rivola explained that the relationship between Martin and Bezzecchi remains healthy because both riders already understand the importance of avoiding unnecessary conflict during a championship campaign.
“The simple rule is that they must respect each other. If they do that, there will be no problem. The rider who has a little more luck and makes fewer mistakes will win,” Rivola said.
Despite Aprilia’s recent dominance, Rivola refused to describe the Italian manufacturer as the outright title favourite. He pointed to the small performance margins currently separating the leading riders, particularly after analysing the pace difference to rivals such as Pedro Acosta and Fabio Di Giannantonio during the French Grand Prix.
According to Rivola, Aprilia’s biggest strength extends beyond qualifying speed, with tyre management becoming a decisive factor in recent victories. He also highlighted rookie Ai Ogura for his ability to manage used tyres and execute overtakes late in races, further demonstrating the RS-GP’s effectiveness under difficult grip conditions.
Aprilia nevertheless expects pressure to increase as the championship enters more demanding circuits later in the season. With Martin and Bezzecchi now separated by minimal points in the standings, maintaining internal stability and disciplined race management could become critical factors in deciding the outcome of the 2026 MotoGP title fight.
Baca Juga
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