Aprilia believes it’s heading into the 2026 MotoGP season in Ducati’s “slipstream”, conceding that the Borgo Panigale marque stays the benchmark within the championship.
After having fun with its greatest season up to now in MotoGP historical past, Aprilia was anticipated to make a step ahead this 12 months and probably put itself able to mount a sustainable title problem.
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However whereas the Noale manufacturing facility has genuinely improved the RS-GP in each metric, a lot of its good points have been negated by Ducati, which has managed to construct a quicker and extra versatile model of the Desmosedici GP.
Aprilia’s Massimo Rivola mentioned he may be glad with the job the producer did over the winter, however is cautious of the progress rivals have made following the opening pre-season check of the 12 months at Sepang.
“I am glad about the truth that the ‘26 bike is best than the ‘25. Once more, it exhibits that Noale is sort of a very good firm, capable of make good bikes but in addition enhance the efficiency yearly,” he mentioned. “However we will solely work on our bikes, on ourselves, and never on others.
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“We noticed that just about all people improved. We noticed Honda being very quick, Ducati being the reference once more and KTM being higher than final 12 months.
“Truthfully, I believe it’ll be fairly an attention-grabbing championship, once more with somebody [Ducati] main. That’s nonetheless the identical, however we are going to keep within the slipstream.”
Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing
Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing
Ducati led the way in which on this week’s Sepang check, with Gresini’s setting a greatest time of 1m56.402s on the factory-spec GP26. Aprilia’s didn’t end too far off on the timesheets, with a late effort on the comfortable tyre vaulting him to second behind Marquez.
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Nonetheless, in dash race simulations, Ducati was clearly the category of the sector, with Alex Marquez, and all impressing with their common lap occasions. Bezzecchi was significantly slower than the trio, however his choice to run on worn tyres rendered any comparisons meaningless.
Requested whether or not he felt Aprilia is nearer to Ducati than it was final 12 months, Rivola mentioned: “I am unable to let you know but, we have to take a better look as a result of in testing it is all the time tough to know what number of laps that tyre had achieved, how a lot gasoline was in that tank.
“Pecco did a dash simulation, now we will all go house – see you in ‘27 (laughs).
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“I believe that in any case we undoubtedly have a greater bike than final 12 months. Final 12 months did not go badly, so we won’t assist however be optimistic. The others have clearly improved too. It is nonetheless a bit early to say. Ducati can be a benchmark anyway.”
MotoGP will maintain one other two-day check at Buriram previous to the season-opening Thai Grand Prix on 1 March.
With a for much longer hole between the 2 pre-season exams than final 12 months, producers have the chance to analyse the info from Sepang and convey new elements for Buriram earlier than homologating their 2026 aero packages.
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Aprilia may even consider sure new parts at Buriram, however Rivola prompt that the core of the brand new RS-GP is essentially outlined.
“There can be small elements additionally in Thailand,” he revealed. “I believe 80-90% of the bundle can be fastened tonight [after Speang].
“However after we analyse every part at house, small particulars can be delivered to Thailand for the final improvement as a way to have fairly a very good base.
“Clearly, Thailand is sort of a unique monitor by way of aero, by way of traits, it is extra a stop-and-go monitor. There can be one thing extra [from Aprilia].”
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