{"id":582662,"date":"2026-04-03T10:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T10:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/582662\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T10:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T10:21:08","slug":"massimo-rivola-makes-big-aprilia-motogp-2026-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/582662\/","title":{"rendered":"Massimo Rivola makes big Aprilia MotoGP 2026 claim"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aprilia, which spent seven years as the last of MotoGP\u2019s factory constructors, returns to Europe on top of the world in 2026.<\/p>\n

After returning to the premier class with the RS-GP in 2015, Aprilia spent season after season at the back of the field.<\/p>\n

The first signs of a breakthrough finally came with a podium by Aleix Espargaro<\/a> in 2021, but Aprilia were still bottom of the constructors’ ranking.<\/p>\n

That changed in 2022, the year of the RS-GP’s first victory, again with Espargaro, when Aprilia climbed to third best, where it remained for the next two years.<\/p>\n

Marco Bezzecchi <\/a>then led the project to a new high of second in the constructors\u2019 last season, but few could have imagined the dream start Aprilia would make in 2026.<\/p>\n

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Aprilia <\/a>has won four of the six races – including Sprints – with Bezzecchi leading every single lap of the three grands prix.<\/p>\n

Team-mate Jorge Martin<\/a> has taken a Sprint victory and finished second to the Italian in the last two GPs.<\/p>\n

Add in a double rostrum for Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez<\/a> at the Buriram season opener, and Aprilia has had two riders on each of the Sunday podiums.<\/p>\n

A technical issue for Ai Ogura <\/a>in Sunday\u2019s US Grand Prix denied what could have been a historic Aprilia one-two-three.<\/p>\n

Even so, the Noale manufacturer returns to Europe leading all three world championships: riders\u2019, constructors\u2019 and teams\u2019.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think it\u2019s clear that, so far, the best bike is Aprilia. And that\u2019s good news!\u201d Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola told MotoGP\u2019s Jack Appleyard moments after Bezzecchi\u2019s COTA victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cFast almost everywhere\u201d<\/p>\n

The COTA result was more significant for the remainder of the season than the Buriram and Brazil victories, since the \u2018standard\u2019 rear tyre casing was in use for the first time this year.<\/p>\n

Rivola told Sky Italia: \u201cIt’s clear that the bike is definitely performing well this year. I don’t want to be arrogant, but I’m not too surprised, in the sense that the numbers that told us the bike was competitive were there.<\/p>\n

\u201cDay after day, I have to say that the bike is fast almost everywhere. It’s obvious, now we arrive at Jerez where many have tested, including us a little, and we’ll see where we are.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment, I feel like saying that the Aprilia is the benchmark bike.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMaybe we’re not used to hearing that, but the numbers say that today. And from here to saying whether we’re the favourites or not… we’re in front now, that’s enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bezzecchi, who has lost out on a potential 24 more points after crashing in the Buriram and COTA Sprints, takes a slim four-point lead over Martin into the Spanish MotoGP from 24-26 April.<\/p>\n

The best non-Aprilia, KTM\u2019s Pedro Acosta, is 21-points behind and the top Ducati of Fabio di Giannantonio 31 adrift.<\/p>\n

Reigning world champion Marc Marquez is 36 points from Bezzecchi, meaning if the gap gets any bigger at Jerez, he\u2019ll fall an entire race weekend behind the Italian.<\/p>\n

Trackhouse riders Fernandez and Ogura are sixth and seventh.<\/p>\n

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