MotoGP 2026: Aprilia Revives Lion Logo as Bezzecchi, Martin React

Aprilia Racing has officially unveiled its MotoGP 2026 livery, bringing back the iconic Lion head logo on the RS-GP and drawing immediate reactions from its factory riders Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, both of whom see the symbol as a defining expression of the team’s identity and ambition.

For the 2026 season, Aprilia retains its traditional black base livery, but the most striking visual change is the return of the Lion emblem on the side fairings. Inspired by historic Venetian symbolism near Aprilia’s hometown of Noale, the Lion has featured in various forms within the brand’s identity since the 1980s. Its reintroduction is intended to reinforce the aggressive character and collective strength of the factory project.

“It’s super nice to have the Lion back,” said Marco Bezzecchi.
“It’s a historical design. Of course, the bike looks very aggressive and the Lion is the character of the whole team and factory, because all the people that are working with us are super strong and super motivated.
The bike looks very, very beautiful. Hopefully, we can bring it to the right place.”

Bezzecchi heads into MotoGP 2026 after delivering Aprilia’s best-ever premier-class campaign, finishing third in last year’s world championship. His confidence is underpinned not only by the symbolism of the new livery but also by tangible technical progress made on the RS-GP.

Team-mate Jorge Martin, who is targeting a rebound after an injury-disrupted 2025 season and a difficult contractual period, also embraced the renewed identity and its competitive message.

“The Lion is the most representative animal for us at the moment,” said Jorge Martin.
“I think we are a great team. I was contracted to try to win, so that’s what I will try to do – fight until the end to try to win this championship, either me or Marco. I think we can do it.”

Beyond aesthetics, Aprilia confirmed that the 2026 RS-GP incorporates refinements across aerodynamics, chassis architecture, electronics, and engine areas not restricted by the current development freeze. These updates underline Aprilia’s intent to build on its recent momentum rather than stand still.

“The bike is quite different from last year,” Bezzecchi added.
“I saw her yesterday for the first time and it looks super aggressive. A black bike is always very nice, and I’m very proud to be an Aprilia rider.”

Martin highlighted the importance of validating those changes through testing rather than presentation alone.

“We could already see in Valencia that the bike was working really well,” he said.
“Now it’s really important to confirm that in testing in Malaysia and Thailand. But for sure, the bike looks impressive in black – and with the Lion, even better.”

The new Aprilia MotoGP 2026 livery will make its on-track debut with test rider Lorenzo Savadori during the Sepang Shakedown later this month, before Bezzecchi and Martin take over for the official pre-season test. As Aprilia combines symbolic heritage with continued technical evolution, the Lion’s return signals clear intent ahead of a potentially defining MotoGP 2026 campaign.

What do you think about Aprilia bringing back the Lion logo for MotoGP 2026? Does it reflect the team’s growing confidence and ambition? Share your thoughts in the comments below