Aprilia CEO praises Marc Marquez's racing
Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola says his team can learn from Marc Marquez's intelligent approach as the Ducati rider closes the MotoGP points gap.
Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola says his team can learn a lot from rival Marc Marquez's "intelligence and ability." Marquez has won four of the last six grands prix, cutting a 102-point championship deficit to just 19.
Rivola praised the Ducati rider's strategic approach in comments to Sky Italia. He highlighted Marquez's skill in managing races where he was not the fastest, securing valuable points without taking excessive risks.
Learning from a champion
Rivola pointed to specific races as examples of Marquez's savvy. "If you look at Mugello and Silverstone, it seemed like he was struggling, but in reality, he brought home the result without taking any risks," Rivola said. He noted that Marquez prioritizes consistency, then delivers a win when he knows he is the strongest. The Aprilia boss believes this is a key lesson for his own riders.
"There's a lot we need to learn from him, from his intelligence and ability," Rivola stated. "You either have that or you don't. But there is always something to learn from the strongest riders."
The Aprilia challenge
Aprilia's factory riders, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, have experienced inconsistent results this season. Despite this, Martin leads the championship by nine points. His advantage comes from greater consistency and avoiding injury-related absences. Martin has only one grand prix win this year, compared to four each for Marquez and his own teammate Bezzecchi.
The following table compares the key championship contenders' win counts and points situation as described in the source:
| Rider | Team | Grand Prix Wins (This Season) | Championship Position | Points Gap to Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jorge Martin | Aprilia | 1 | 1st (Leader) | - |
| Marc Marquez | Ducati | 4 | 2nd | -9 |
| Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia | 4 | 3rd | Not specified |
Fighting the giants
Rivola acknowledged the scale of the challenge against Ducati, a manufacturer that has dominated MotoGP for the last four seasons. He urges his team to maintain perspective even on difficult weekends. He tells them not to be downcast with fourth or fifth place finishes, as they are competing against giants more accustomed to winning.
"We know we have an opponent like Marquez, who is one of the greatest riders in history," Rivola said. He finds motivation in the challenge of trying to beat such a rider. The CEO expressed his long-held belief in his riders' potential, stating he has believed Martin and Bezzecchi could become champions since last year.
Rivola concluded by emphasizing the fight is not over. He said Aprilia has made the right moves, including recent plans for the future, but that alone is insufficient. The team's goal is to take the championship battle all the way to the final race of the season.
