Aprilia quietly hopeful Marco Bezzecchi will edge out Jorge Martin in MotoGP title race
Photo by Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images There are concerns within Aprilia that Jorge Martin could clinch the world championship before making his switch to Yamaha. Marco Bezzecchi continued his impressive run by extending his lead at the top of the standings with a victory at the United States Grand Prix. Aprilia managed a one-two finish in Austin, with Martin’s second-place keeping him right on Bezzecchi’s heels in the title race.
The two Aprilia riders are now separated by just four points, and there is some worry that Martin could end up taking the title away from Bezzecchi this year. Aprilia hasn’t made any public statements about supporting either rider in the title fight, but it’s clear there will be hopes inside the team that Bezzecchi comes out ahead. Aprilia unlikely to admit preference for Marco Bezzecchi over Jorge Martin in title race Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images Speaking on the Motorsport Republica podcast, MotoGP reporter Jack Appleyard shared his perspective on how things stand within Aprilia as Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin go head-to-head for the title.
He pointed out that, even though Aprilia won’t openly support one rider over the other, there’s a quiet hope inside the team that Bezzecchi will come out on top, especially with Martin expected to switch to Yamaha after this season. “Although Aprilia would never say it, it’s absolutely obvious to everyone that if one rider in the Aprilia garage is to win the world championship this year, of course they’re desperately hoping it’s Marco Bezzecchi. “So then next year, the number one is still on the Aprilia.
The last thing they want is Martin to win it and then take it across to Yamaha, which would be a wild thing at the start of next year. ” “They’ll never say it,” Appleyard said, “but of course they want Bez to win the championship… They’re going to give them equal machinery, they’re going to let them fight it out. ” How Jorge Martin’s Yamaha switch could shift the title race dynamic inside Aprilia There are plenty of reports circulating that Martin will be moving to Yamaha for 2027, meaning this is his last run with Aprilia for now.
Massimo Rivola has stayed away from issuing any team orders so far, saying he won’t step in unless one rider is mathematically out of the title hunt. But with Bezzecchi and Martin running so close at the top, there could be a point where Aprilia feels pressure to throw its support behind one rider – and Bezzecchi seems like the more obvious choice. If Martin does leave as expected, backing Bezzecchi isn’t just about this season – it’s about building continuity for what comes next.