The Aprilia factory team is preparing for a complete shake-up in 2025 and 2026. Aleix Espargaró, who played a key role at Aprilia for eight years, will leave the brand to join Honda as a test rider. Maverick Viñales, meanwhile, will head to KTM to ride for the Tech3 team. These departures pave the way for Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, who will take their respective places at Aprilia.
The departure ofI will espargaro is particularly significant. Thanks to his constant feedback, he had a major influence on the development of RS-GP. Paul Bonora, sports director of Aprilia, highlights the importance of the contributions ofAleix Espargaro : " his statements were very important for our development ". The engineers ofAprilia learned to interpret his feedback accurately, which made him a reference within the team.
However, this change of drivers comes asAprilia is already developing the bike for next season. When Martin et Bezzecchi will test the new bike in Valencia in November, their feedback cannot be taken into account for the immediate development of the RS-GP25. The bike will be finalized and sent to Malaysia for winter testing in mid-January, based on feedback from current riders.
Paolo Bonora: “ it certainly won't be easy to change both drivers next year »
Bonora admits that integrating new drivers will not be simple: “ we are thinking about it. It certainly won't be easy to change both drivers next year. But we think that we have done well in the past and that we are improved more and more ". He adds that the key will be to effectively integrate new riders so that their feedback can be well interpreted through the bike's data.
Another challenge for engineers is adapting the bike to different riding styles. WhileI will espargaro has a traditional driving style, George Martin has a much more aggressive approach. Bonora explains on motorsport total : " Aleix rides the old fashioned way, he always sits on the motorcycle, even during braking and mid-corner. On the other hand, we have Maverick, which rides completely differently. It brakes completely differently and straightens the bike sooner. Of course, we don't know exactly how Martin's style will fit our bike ».
The influence of Martin et Bezzecchi will really be felt on the 2026 bike, and the new bike for 2027 is already under development. The first prototype could be on the track as early as late 2025, indicating that innovation and adaptation remain constant priorities for Aprilia in their quest for optimal performance.
This transition therefore marks a new era for Aprilia, with renewed hopes and challenges to face, but also an opportunity to continue progressing in the MotoGP championship with promising new talents.
