Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, stated that his team has not lost the 2026 MotoGP title, but rather Marc Márquez has achieved victory with exceptional performances on his Ducati.
At a crucial moment in the season, Márquez is about to seal his tenth world title and eighth in the motorcycle category. Although he had a chance to win the championship in Qatar, he was aware that his possibilities were limited during the past weekend.
The Spaniard won the Saturday sprint race in Losail and, on Sunday, finished in second place, a result that could allow him to proclaim himself champion in Portimao if he manages to surpass Jorge Martin by two points. A new top finish would also ensure that Marco Bezzecchi does not pose a threat, as he is 74 points behind.
The debate over whether Márquez has won the title or if Aprilia has lost it has grown among fans and within the paddock. Rivola, in an interview with Sky Sport, emphasized the qualities of the Ducati rider, lamenting that despite Aprilia having one of its best seasons, it has not been able to secure victory in the riders’ championship.
Rivola said: ‘Marc Márquez has won it. He has been the decisive factor. He demonstrated this once again in this last race; just look at the distance between him and the other Ducatis. He has seized every opportunity to add 37 points.’
At the start of the season, Aprilia seemed to have an advantage, with Bezzecchi leading by 102 points over Márquez after the GP of Italy, where the Catalan rider was recovering from leg surgery. However, as Márquez has regained his level, he has capitalized on the mistakes of his rivals, racking up seven victories throughout the season.
In this vein, Rivola expresses optimism for Aprilia’s future, underscoring the great work done by the team and the competitiveness of their bike. ‘Without a doubt, I see the glass half full; this year has been a testament to the work we have done. We have not thrown in the towel and will continue fighting until the last race,’ he stated.
The team and constructor titles are still within reach of Aprilia, which occupies first place in the team standings with a 124-point lead, while being only 8 points behind the constructor championship leader.
Rivola concluded by stating that the priority is to win the team title, equating it to that of constructors in Formula 1: ‘The total points of our riders define our position in the championship. I am convinced we deserve to win the constructors’ title.’
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
