News Summary

Aprilia is facing the biggest opportunity in its MotoGP history in 2026. For the first time since joining the premier class, the Italian manufacturer is fighting directly for the world championship, and team manager Paolo Bonora says the Noale operation is working at full capacity to capitalize on the opportunity.

“We know that we have the opportunity. We don’t want to miss this opportunity. No doubt the bike is very good, but we know that the rival is at a very high level. We know that we need to improve race by race. We never stop improving,” Bonora told the official MotoGP website.

Aprilia has a long and successful history in the smaller classes, particularly during the two-stroke era. The manufacturer won 10 Riders’ and 10 Constructors’ titles in the 125cc class, followed by another nine in each championship in the 250cc category.

The one major prize still missing from Aprilia’s trophy cabinet is the MotoGP Riders’ and Constructors’ crowns.

The 2026 campaign has brought the manufacturer closer to that goal than ever before. After 13 of 22 Grands Prix, Jorge Martín leads the Riders’ Championship with 256 points, while teammate Marco Bezzecchi is third on 232. Aprilia also leads Ducati in the Constructors’ standings.

After Aragón, Marc Márquez closed to within 19 points of Martín, while Bezzecchi remained just 24 points off the lead, keeping Ducati firmly in the title fight.

Marco Bezzecchi (Photo: Divulgação/MotoGP)

Aprilia refuses to stop developing the RS-GP

Despite already having one eye on the 2027 regulations, Aprilia has continued to bring updates to its current 1000cc RS-GP.

The team introduced small aerodynamic changes at Silverstone before bringing a new rear wing to Aragón. Bezzecchi subsequently took pole position at MotorLand with a new lap record, underlining the competitiveness of the current machine. The Italian had already shown Aprilia’s pace by topping Friday practice with another lap record.

The decision to continue developing the current bike is particularly significant because MotoGP is preparing for a major technical reset in 2027, when the premier class will switch from 1000cc to 850cc machines. MotoGP has already confirmed the first pre-season testing dates for the new era.

That leaves Aprilia with two demanding projects: extracting the maximum from the RS-GP while simultaneously ensuring that its 850cc prototype is ready for the next generation of regulations.

“Eight days a week” to fight on two fronts

Bonora acknowledged that balancing the two development programs is one of the biggest challenges facing the manufacturer.

“We started working eight days a week and 25 hours a day. So, we are trying to make it happen. It’s difficult, but we are trying. We know that,” Bonora joked.

The comment reflects the scale of Aprilia’s task. The manufacturer cannot afford to sacrifice its current title bid in the name of 2027, but it also cannot allow the development of its next-generation bike to fall behind.

“We have to put something on the table. Every day we check whether we are on the correct schedule, on the correct agenda with the two projects,” Bonora explained.

“At the moment, we are quite well positioned to go ahead with both projects at the same time. It is necessary to continue with both at the maximum level, at the same time. It is a very tough task, very difficult. But we know the potential and we keep moving forward,” he added.

The approach reflects Aprilia’s transformation into one of the strongest forces in MotoGP. The manufacturer entered the second half of the season with three riders inside the top four and a clear advantage over Ducati in terms of overall competitiveness.

The pressure, however, has increased after Aragón. Marc Márquez won both the Sprint and Grand Prix to score the maximum 37 points, while Bezzecchi finished third in the main race. Márquez’s perfect weekend moved him into second place and brought him firmly back into the title fight.

Jorge Martín and Marc Márquez (Photo: AFP)

Aprilia’s title opportunity enters decisive phase

With nine Grands Prix remaining, Aprilia has two riders within striking distance of the championship lead. Martín remains in control, but Márquez and Bezzecchi have both demonstrated that the fight is far from settled.

For Martín, the priority is maintaining consistency and protecting the advantage built during the first half of the season. The Aprilia rider has insisted he can maintain the championship lead even if Márquez continues to close the gap.

For Bezzecchi, the challenge is recovering the points lost through injury and a mid-season suspension while continuing to extract the maximum from the RS-GP.

For Aprilia, meanwhile, the equation is even more complicated: win the 2026 championship without compromising the 2027 project.

That is why Bonora’s “eight days a week” joke captures the reality of the Noale operation. Aprilia is effectively trying to develop two generations of MotoGP machinery at the same time while fighting for the biggest prize in the sport.

The MotoGP season resumes from September 11-13 with the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix at Misano, the 14th round of the 2026 championship. GRANDE PRÊMIO will follow the entire weekend schedule across all World Championship categories.

FAQ

Is Aprilia leading the 2026 MotoGP championship?

Yes. Jorge Martín leads the Riders’ Championship after 13 rounds, while Aprilia is also first in the Constructors’ standings. Marco Bezzecchi is third in the Riders’ Championship.

Why is Aprilia developing two MotoGP bikes at once?

Aprilia is continuing to develop its current 1000cc RS-GP because it is fighting for the 2026 championship, while also developing an 850cc prototype for MotoGP’s new technical regulations in 2027.

How many Grands Prix remain in the 2026 MotoGP season?

Nine Grands Prix remain after the Aragón round, which was the 13th of 22 rounds on the 2026 calendar. The next race is the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix at Misano.