Silverstone winner Marco Bezzecchi has established himself as Aprilia Racing's leader in MotoGP 2025, taking the reins of the factory team in Noale. With Jorge Martin's unilateral departure announced for the end of 2025, CEO Massimo Rivola must now find a top-level teammate to accompany "Bezz" in 2026. Between MotoGP veterans and emerging Moto2 talents, Aprilia is exploring several avenues in a tense rider market.
At aprilia-racing, a new chapter opens. In the prolonged absence of George Martin, injured and leaving for 2026, Marco Bezzecchi establishes himself as the new natural leader of the official Noale team. His resounding victory at Silverstone only confirmed what observers and engineers ofAprilia already sensed: "Bez" is no longer an outsider, he is now the leading man.
While the media temporarily dropped the case George Martin, the tension remains palpable behind the scenes. The reigning world champion is still contractually bound to Aprilia for 2025, but his departure is scheduled for 2026. And if the legal uncertainty continues to hover around the management of his convalescence and his immediate future, the long-term strategy ofAprilia is clear: rebuild around Bezzecchi.
The quest for the perfect teammate for 2026 has already begun. With Massimo rivola At the helm, the central question now is: should we bet on a solid veteran or a young, raw talent? Because the 2026 grid promises to be profoundly redesigned, and Aprilia wants to hit fast and hard.
Veterans or Rookies: Aprilia's options for 2026
Among the available veterans, several profiles stand out. Franco Morbidelli, related to VR46 Racing Team for 2025, remains an attractive name. A former vice-world champion, he knows the Italian environment well and has good technical experience. Jack Miller, at the end of his contract at Pramac (and potentially threatened by Toprak Razgatlioglu), could represent a bold but risky bet. Luca marini, in difficulty at Honda, could bounce back into a more stable framework. Johann zarco, in discussions to extend at HRC, remains a realistic option if the negotiations fail.
On the side of young talents from the Moto2, several names are already being closely followed. Manuel Gonzalez, current championship leader, impresses with his consistency and racing intelligence. David Alonso, Moto3 champion, is seen as a nugget to be polished. Senna Agius, winner at Silverstone, seduced by his precocity – only 19 years old – and his audacity. Aron Canet remains a hot name, always placed, never crowned, but more mature than ever. Jake dixon, which crystallizes British hopes, could offer a marketing spotlight in addition to some welcome on-track aggression.
The objective ofAprilia is clear: to form a stable, complementary and ambitious duo. The team no longer wants to depend on a single star driver. By placing Bezzecchi as a pillar, it seeks to build a real two-headed structure, capable of aiming for the world title in the next two seasons.
And while 2026 may still seem far away, the truth is simple: in the paddock MotoGP, everything is happening now.
