Aprilia Has Plan B, C for Bezzecchi’s 2027 Team-Mate

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola has revealed the manufacturer already has multiple contingency options in place as it begins searching the rider market for Marco Bezzecchi’s team-mate for the 2027 MotoGP season.

Aprilia became the first manufacturer to ignite the 2027 rider market over the winter after announcing a new two-year contract extension for Bezzecchi ahead of the Sepang MotoGP Test. Off the back of finishing second in the manufacturers’ championship last season, Aprilia has positioned itself as one of the most attractive destinations on the grid heading into the next regulatory cycle.

The seat alongside Bezzecchi is widely expected to be vacated by reigning 2024 world champion Jorge Martin, who has been strongly linked with a move to Yamaha. While Rivola stopped short of ruling out Martin remaining with Aprilia, he confirmed that the company is already preparing alternative scenarios.

“Marco was our priority, and it’s good that we fixed priority number one,” Rivola told MotoGP.com.
“I think he deserved that. He showed his commitment to the company, to the team, and to the performance of the bike. It’s a perfect combination.”

“The good thing is that once we have fixed our priority, we have time to check the market, and we will see.”

Rivola also admitted that Aprilia has yet to unlock Martin’s full potential aboard the RS-GP, suggesting the door remains open while the Italian marque evaluates its options during the season.

“For sure, we didn’t see Jorge’s talent yet,” Rivola added.
“I’m very curious to see that. Aprilia never sleeps, so there are plan B, plan C and even plan D.”

“It’s a bit too early. The priority is fixed. If we can show that we can build fast bikes, maybe plan B is easier than plan Z.”

Several high-profile names have been linked to Aprilia throughout the winter. One of them was 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo, although reports last week suggested the Frenchman had reached an agreement with Honda. Quartararo later denied any deal was signed, but acknowledged Honda is among the manufacturers he is in talks with.

More recently, attention has turned to double MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia, who hinted during the Sepang test that he has “great opportunities” available for his future. Multiple reports indicate Bagnaia’s time with Ducati could be coming to an end.

Speculation suggests Ducati is targeting an all-star factory line-up of Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta for the 2027 season. Should that scenario materialise, Aprilia’s decision over Bezzecchi’s future team-mate could become one of the defining moves of the next MotoGP era.