MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia Racing arrive at the 2026 Thai Grand Prix under heightened expectations after topping the Buriram test, but the Italian rider has moved to temper growing optimism ahead of the season opener.
Aprilia concluded the 2025 campaign with three victories from the final four races and secured second in the manufacturers’ standings for the first time, positioning the Noale-based factory as a credible challenger to Ducati in the final year of the 1000cc regulation cycle. That momentum continued in pre-season testing at Buriram, where Bezzecchi led a 1-2 finish for the marque ahead of Ai Ogura from Trackhouse Racing.
The performance drew praise from rivals, notably Marc Marquez, who highlighted the step forward made by Aprilia over the winter. He also referenced the rapid adaptation of Jorge Martin and Ogura’s competitive pace during race simulations in Thailand.
“Of course, Aprilia, especially with Marco, but also Jorge Martin with only one test, and also Ai Ogura, they did a step.
“Already last year, Marco finished the second half of the season super-fast. So, he will be a title contender from the beginning.”
Bezzecchi, however, offered a more measured assessment, stressing that testing times do not always provide a definitive benchmark due to varying programmes and tyre strategies across the grid.
“But, during testing, it’s difficult to get a clear comparison because everyone does a different job, you never know what they are doing, you never know what tyre they are using.
“So, at the end, it’s good to see the results of the test, especially here in Thailand, because we tried to prepare for the weekend.
“But it’s not crucial. So, I don’t feel the same as them.”
Asked whether he feels equipped to contend for the 2026 title, Bezzecchi prioritised consistency over immediate championship ambitions after an inconsistent opening half to 2025.
“My main target right now is to start in a better way than last year, because the first half of last season was a bit up and down.
“Hopefully, I can fight for good races, good results, but my main target right now is to start in a better way.”
With performance margins expected to remain tight among manufacturers, the Buriram season opener will provide the first definitive indication of whether Aprilia can sustain its late-2025 momentum and mount a prolonged challenge to Ducati across the 2026 campaign.
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