APRILIA IS THE MANUFACTURER TO BEAT IN 2026
The 2026 MotoGP season started in Thailand and we have one clear storyline emerging from the weekend: Aprilia looks like the bike to beat.
One of the major takeaways from the opening round was the performance of the Italian manufacturer. Aprilia had already shown promising pace in pre-season testing, with their riders frequently occupying positions inside the top five. Thailand confirmed that this speed was no illusion.
Qualifying underlined the strength of the RS-GP package. Factory team star Marco Bezzecchi stole the spotlight by securing pole position for the season opener, crucially ahead of reigning champion Marc Marquez.
Raul Fernandez, riding for Aprilia’s satellite outfit Trackhouse, joined him on the front row in P3. The other two Aprilia riders also impressed: 2024 champion Jorge Martin qualified P5, while sophomore Ai Ogura secured P8. All four bikes lining up within the first three rows already marked a significant step forward for the Noale-based manufacturer. The weekend, however, was only just getting started.
Saturday’s sprint race exposed the team’s only notable weakness. From pole position, Bezzecchi led early on but crashed under pressure from Marquez. It was a mistake reminiscent of similar errors toward the end of 2025, and one the Italian will be eager to eliminate if he is to maximise the bike’s evident potential. Nevertheless, the remaining Aprilia trio delivered strong results: Fernandez finished P3, Ogura P4, and Martin P5.
Sunday’s main race provided the clearest statement yet of Aprilia’s progress. Bezzecchi controlled proceedings from the front, demonstrating that the bike is capable of maintaining race-winning pace over a full grand prix distance. He claimed victory in the season opener by more than five seconds over Pedro Acosta in second place. A problem for Marquez allowed Fernandez to secure his second podium of the weekend with another P3, followed closely by factory rider Martin in P4.
While Bezzecchi showcased the bike’s strength in clean air, Ogura highlighted its effectiveness in traffic. The Japanese rider fought his way from P11 to P5 in the closing stages, proving that the RS-GP is not only fast but also competitive in close battle.
Having all four machines finish inside the top five is a milestone Aprilia have not previously achieved at this level. It suggests they may indeed have the bike to beat in 2026. The real test will come when the championship moves to a new venue in Brazil in just over two weeks’ time. If Aprilia can replicate this level of performance on unfamiliar circuit, the rest of the grid may already have a problem.
Aprilia has an aero innovation that helps
Aprilia has devised a clever way to gain some of the benefits of active aerodynamics without breaking MotoGP’s rules banning moving aero parts.
The team added a small vent on top of the side fairing. When the rider tucks in on the straight, their forearms naturally cover the opening, altering the airflow and reducing drag. Nothing on the bike moves, the rider’s body acts as the switch.
This is crucial because the RS-GP’s strong ground-effect aerodynamics deliver excellent cornering grip but create extra drag. The vent system allows Aprilia to keep its high-downforce setup for corners while improving straight-line speed.
This could be the year for the team born in the surroundings of Rome, but high competition at the front will need hard work to keep up with.
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