The 2025 MotoGP season marks a campaign of change at Aprilia with two new riders bringing a new level of expectation to the team.
Reigning world champion Jorge Martin leads the Italian manufacturer in one of 2025’s most dramatic rider changes and will be joined by Marco Bezzecchi in arguably Aprilia’s best ever MotoGP lineup.
Both Martin and Bezzecchi come to the team with a desire to develop the RS-GP bike following a lacklustre 2024 for the Noale factory, as its traditionally ‘strong’ showings at low grip circuits failed to materialise last season, aside from Aleix Espargaro’s chance victory in the Barcelona Sprint.
Aprilia’s only real highlight of 2024 was Maverick Vinales’ dominant weekend in Austin, which may raise some concerns for both Martin and Bezzecchi as they attempt to battle the might of Ducati after leaving the manufacturer ahead of the new season.
While Martin says he doesn’t regret signing for the Italian outfit despite its recent struggles, he will be a heavy underdog in the fight to retain his world title due to the power of Ducati’s super team of Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, and it is likely he will need a period of adaptation to the new machinery.
“Bringing the Aprilia to fight for the championship won’t be easy, so the ambition for the new season isn’t that,” admitted Martin to the TengoUnPlan podcast.
“The opportunity could present itself maybe as early as 2026 but, for now, I just have to try to do my best.”
On the other side of the garage, Bezzecchi joins Aprilia with something to prove after his struggles at VR46 last campaign.
Bezzecchi had been touted for a potential ride in the factory Ducati team after a strong showing in the 2023 season, however his failure to adapt to the GP23 halted the Italian’s progress as he was only able to score one podium last year.
The downturn in form for the Italian means question marks have been raised as to whether his 2023 performance was a one-off, which means Bezzecchi will have doubters to prove wrong ahead of the new season.
A new technical direction for Aprilia in 2025?
Another big change for Aprilia going into the new season is the introduction of technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini.
Sterlacchini joins the team following his exit from KTM and will hope to build on the legacy left by Romano Albesiano, who departed for Honda at the end of 2024.
Following his first outing with the team at the Barcelona test, Sterlacchini said that the approach of both Martin and Bezzecchi was positive and that the bike was responding well to the riders’ feedback.
“It’s going pretty well,” Sterlacchini told TG Regione Marche in December, “The initial approach of both riders, both Martin and Bezzecchi, was pretty positive.
“They showed some very good characteristics of the bike.
“Obviously there will be some aspects to work on, but dealing with these two riders will give us the yardstick of where we are and the aspects where we need to work.
“They both come from a very fast bike and Jorge in particular is the reigning world champion.”
