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Aprilia duo “so smart” as team braces for MotoGP title fight tension
Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin’s MotoGP form puts Aprilia on course for a tense but “smart” team-mate title fight.
Paolo Bonora says Aprilia would welcome the “difficult situation” of a MotoGP title fight between team-mates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.
The Aprilia duo currently lead the world championship standings, with Bezzecchi winning all three grands prix so far this season.
However, the Italian has made costly errors in two Sprints, while Martin and KTM’s Pedro Acosta are the only riders to have scored in every race.
Martin’s highlight is a debut Aprilia victory in the COTA Sprint, but he has also finished runner-up to Bezzecchi in the last two grands prix and continues to gain physical strength and experience on the RS-GP.
That leaves Bezzecchi just four points clear of the 2024 MotoGP champion heading into the European opener at Jerez later this month.
Further intrigue surrounds a potential all-Aprilia title battle since Bezzecchi has already re-signed until 2028, while Martin is rumoured to have lost his seat to Pecco Bagnaia.
Aprilia team manager Bonora echoed Massimo Rivola’s sentiments that a team-mate vs team-mate title battle is a nice problem to have, while praising the “smart” working relationship between the riders.
“I remember Massimo Rivola answered this question and said he would be happy to manage this difficult situation!” Bonora told TNT Sports.
“I think he was fully right. We are happy to manage this difficult situation [of a team-mate title battle].
“We know that we have in our garage two very strong, talented riders. But we have seen that they are so smart, and they are working together in a very positive way.”
Although Martin fought fellow Ducati rider Bagnaia for the MotoGP crown in 2023 and 2024, they were riding for different teams.
The last time riders from the same team finished first and second in the final MotoGP standings was 2015, with factory Yamaha stars Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.
That contest ended in acrimony when Rossi accused Marc Marquez of trying to assist Lorenzo’s championship chances, and clashed with the Honda rider at Sepang.
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Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin’s MotoGP form puts Aprilia on course for a tense but “smart” team-mate title fight.
Paolo Bonora says Aprilia would welcome the “difficult situation” of a MotoGP title fight between team-mates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.
The Aprilia duo currently lead the world championship standings, with Bezzecchi winning all three grands prix so far this season.
However, the Italian has made costly errors in two Sprints, while Martin and KTM’s Pedro Acosta are the only riders to have scored in every race.
Martin’s highlight is a debut Aprilia victory in the COTA Sprint, but he has also finished runner-up to Bezzecchi in the last two grands prix and continues to gain physical strength and experience on the RS-GP.
That leaves Bezzecchi just four points clear of the 2024 MotoGP champion heading into the European opener at Jerez later this month.
Further intrigue surrounds a potential all-Aprilia title battle since Bezzecchi has already re-signed until 2028, while Martin is rumoured to have lost his seat to Pecco Bagnaia.
Aprilia team manager Bonora echoed Massimo Rivola’s sentiments that a team-mate vs team-mate title battle is a nice problem to have, while praising the “smart” working relationship between the riders.
“I remember Massimo Rivola answered this question and said he would be happy to manage this difficult situation!” Bonora told TNT Sports.
“I think he was fully right. We are happy to manage this difficult situation [of a team-mate title battle].
“We know that we have in our garage two very strong, talented riders. But we have seen that they are so smart, and they are working together in a very positive way.”
Although Martin fought fellow Ducati rider Bagnaia for the MotoGP crown in 2023 and 2024, they were riding for different teams.
The last time riders from the same team finished first and second in the final MotoGP standings was 2015, with factory Yamaha stars Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.
That contest ended in acrimony when Rossi accused Marc Marquez of trying to assist Lorenzo’s championship chances, and clashed with the Honda rider at Sepang.
Paolo Bonora says Aprilia would welcome the “difficult situation” of a MotoGP title fight between team-mates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.
The Aprilia duo currently lead the world championship standings, with Bezzecchi winning all three grands prix so far this season.
However, the Italian has made costly errors in two Sprints, while Martin and KTM’s Pedro Acosta are the only riders to have scored in every race.
Martin’s highlight is a debut Aprilia victory in the COTA Sprint, but he has also finished runner-up to Bezzecchi in the last two grands prix and continues to gain physical strength and experience on the RS-GP.
That leaves Bezzecchi just four points clear of the 2024 MotoGP champion heading into the European opener at Jerez later this month.
Further intrigue surrounds a potential all-Aprilia title battle since Bezzecchi has already re-signed until 2028, while Martin is rumoured to have lost his seat to Pecco Bagnaia.
Aprilia team manager Bonora echoed Massimo Rivola’s sentiments that a team-mate vs team-mate title battle is a nice problem to have, while praising the “smart” working relationship between the riders.
“I remember Massimo Rivola answered this question and said he would be happy to manage this difficult situation!” Bonora told TNT Sports.
“I think he was fully right. We are happy to manage this difficult situation [of a team-mate title battle].
“We know that we have in our garage two very strong, talented riders. But we have seen that they are so smart, and they are working together in a very positive way.”
Although Martin fought fellow Ducati rider Bagnaia for the MotoGP crown in 2023 and 2024, they were riding for different teams.
The last time riders from the same team finished first and second in the final MotoGP standings was 2015, with factory Yamaha stars Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.
That contest ended in acrimony when Rossi accused Marc Marquez of trying to assist Lorenzo’s championship chances, and clashed with the Honda rider at Sepang.
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