Massimo Rivola has asked Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin to show “respect” towards one another as they find themselves leading the 2026 MotoGP title race. Aprilia, meanwhile, aren’t looking to issue team orders just yet.
Aprilia have both of their riders firmly in the title fight early in the year, with Bezzecchi heading into the break just four points clear of Martin. Pedro Acosta is third overall, sitting 21 points back after three rounds.
Bezzecchi’s start couldn’t have gone much better, picking up wins in Thailand, Brazil, and the United States. Martin has also been strong around COTA with a Sprint win and a Grand Prix second place on top of another runner-up finish at Goiania.
Martin won the Sprint at COTA and took second in both Texas and Goiania Grands Prix. Acosta remains the only non-Aprilia rider with two podiums so far this season.
Aprilia will hold off on team orders until one rider is out of title contention
Bezzecchi has been in top form, leading every lap over the past five Grands Prix and carrying momentum from back-to-back wins to close out the 2025 season. Even Marquez has said that Bezzecchi feels “unstoppable” at the moment. Still, crashes in the Buriram and COTA Sprints have allowed Martin to stay within reach.
Rivola is standing by Aprilia’s approach, saying it’s far too early in the season to consider asking one rider to support the other’s title bid. The team won’t reconsider their stance unless one rider is mathematically ruled out of contention.
“It would certainly be nicer if, considering these considerations, we were three GPs from the end and not three from the start,” Rivola told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It’s true that Bez has never won, so it’s all new to him. But I see him very focused. We’ll talk about it later. As Lucio Battisti used to say, ‘We’ll only find out by living’.
“Yes, yes, yes [they are free to race]. If one of them is mathematically out of the running and can help the other, we’ll see. The important thing is that there is respect – and you can see whether there is or isn’t. The first to notice are the riders.”
Jorge Martin’s future with Aprilia remains open, says Massimo Rivola
Some might be surprised by Rivola’s stance, especially with the expectation that Martin will leave Aprilia at the end of the year. Reports have linked him to a move to Yamaha in 2027, as Fabio Quartararo is set to join Honda.
It is also said that Aprilia are set to sign Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia on a 2+2 year contract to replace Martin, having given Bezzecchi a new deal in February. But no deals have officially been completed yet, and Aprilia CEO Rivola continues to leave a door ajar for Martin to stay.
Rivola said: “Aside from the confirmation of the Bez, there have been no announcements, right? We’ve forced ourselves to take one day at a time.”
Martin and Bezzecchi both joined Aprilia in 2025, but Martin has often been rumoured to be considering other options after an injury-hit first season. Now returning to full fitness, he could be in line for another title push after winning the championship in 2024.
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