Aprilia has been making headlines in 2025 — not just for its bold new rider lineup, but also for the gains its RS-GP machine has made on track. Despite a strong showing in recent rounds, Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola has openly acknowledged that the bike still has a key weakness. Speaking after a stellar weekend at Assen, where Marco Bezzecchi bagged a Sprint podium and a second-place Grand Prix finish, Rivola shared that the 2025 RS-GP is still a bit too physical and not quite as rider-friendly as they’d like.
“Since the beginning of the season, especially compared to what [the riders] were used to, the bike is a bit more physical,” Rivola admitted.
“It’s a bit more aggressive, which makes it harder to get to 100% performance and repeat it consistently.”
To address this, Aprilia has been working on making the RS-GP smoother and easier to ride, a process being guided by Fabiano Sterlacchini, their new technical boss with a background at Ducati and KTM. Rivola believes they’re on the right path and credits Sterlacchini’s leadership for driving development in the right direction.
2025: A Year of Overhaul for Aprilia
Aprilia has had a massive reset this season, starting with both factory riders being replaced. MotoGP champion Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi came in to replace Aleix Espargaro (who retired) and Maverick Vinales. That alone is a massive shift — but only one rider, Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez, had prior experience on the RS-GP heading into 2025.
Bezzecchi, so far, has been the standout among the new faces. He claimed Aprilia’s first win of the year at Silverstone and followed it up with double podiums at Assen. Meanwhile, Martin’s season has been marred by injuries and a messy contract situation, with rumours linking him to Honda. Even so, his performance on the RS-GP hinted at serious potential.
Raul Fernandez has also quietly stepped up, stringing together three straight top-10 finishes, including eighth at Assen, finding consistency after a shaky start.
Where Aprilia Shines: Aerodynamics
While the RS-GP’s rideability may need fine-tuning, Rivola made no apologies for Aprilia’s strength in another area: aerodynamics.
“On the aero side? I don’t want to look arrogant, but I think we are the reference in that area,” Rivola confidently stated.
He’s not wrong. Aprilia has pushed the limits on MotoGP aerodynamics — from introducing ground-effect fairings in 2024 to the radical rear-seat fairing tested after Jerez this year. These innovations have made the RS-GP one of the most technically advanced bikes on the grid, if not the most daring.
So Why Does Jorge Martin Want to Leave?
It’s a fair question. With Aprilia now a genuine threat at the front, and Bezzecchi proving what the RS-GP can do, many are puzzled by Martin’s rumoured desire to jump ship to Honda — a team that, while improving, still trails Aprilia in outright performance.
Perhaps the answer lies not just in machinery but in relationships, long-term prospects, or contract structure. Either way, Aprilia seems unbothered, focused more on evolving the bike and continuing its surge to the top.
For now, all eyes are on Bezzecchi to see just how far the RS-GP can go — and whether Aprilia’s new “smoother” direction pays off in the second half of the season.
