News Summary
- Sepang and Qatar are Aprilia’s biggest concerns among the remaining MotoGP rounds.
- Jorge Martín leads Marc Márquez by just two points after Indonesia.
- Sterlacchini also admits that Aprilia could introduce team orders as the championship reaches its final stages.
Aprilia has identified the Malaysian and Qatar Grands Prix as its biggest concerns in the final stages of the 2026 MotoGP championship, with technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini acknowledging that the manufacturer cannot assume its recent advantage over Ducati will continue at every circuit.
Jorge Martín leads Marc Márquez by just two points following the Indonesian Grand Prix, where Aprilia completed an unprecedented sweep of the first four positions.
Marco Bezzecchi won at Mandalika ahead of Raúl Fernández, Martín and Ai Ogura, while Márquez finished sixth.
Despite the result, Aprilia failed to increase its championship advantage over the Ducati rider, leaving the title battle finely balanced with five rounds remaining.
Why Sepang and Qatar worry Aprilia
Sterlacchini identified the two venues when discussing the manufacturer’s prospects for the remaining races.
He explained that Martín’s failure to finish at Sepang and Qatar in 2025 was an additional consideration as Aprilia assessed the closing stages of the season.
The technical director suggested that the manufacturer felt more confident about its competitiveness at the other remaining circuits.
His comments underline the difference between Aprilia’s current outright performance and the challenge of maintaining consistent championship results.
The RS-GP26 demonstrated its strength during the manufacturer’s historic Indonesian Grand Prix sweep, but the characteristics of Sepang and Lusail present different technical demands.
Sepang combines long straights, heavy braking zones and demanding traction requirements, while Lusail features fast corners and conditions that can change significantly between sessions.
Márquez remains within striking distance
Márquez took advantage of Aprilia’s problems during the Indonesian sprint to temporarily reclaim the championship lead.
However, Martín finished third in Sunday’s race and returned to the top of the standings with a two-point advantage.
The narrow margin means even relatively small differences in finishing positions could change the championship order.
Aprilia is also considering how to manage its riders during the final rounds.
Sterlacchini has acknowledged that team orders may become necessary, although the manufacturer has not yet confirmed instructions requiring riders to surrender positions.
The situation is complicated by Bezzecchi, who remains mathematically in contention, and the competitive performances of the Trackhouse riders.
The role of Trackhouse in Aprilia’s potential team orders strategy has become particularly relevant following Fernández’s podium in Indonesia.
Phillip Island offers Aprilia its next test
The Australian Grand Prix takes place from October 23 to 25, before MotoGP travels to Malaysia and Qatar.
Phillip Island’s fast corners and demanding tyre conditions will provide another indication of how Aprilia and Ducati compare across different circuit characteristics.
The technical challenges of Phillip Island in the Martín–Márquez championship battle have already become a major focus ahead of the Australian round.
After Australia, Sepang and Lusail will provide the two tests specifically identified by Sterlacchini.
