Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola Defends Marco Bezzecchi Amid 2023 Struggles, Eyes Future with Multi-Year Deal

Aprilia: Marco Bezzecchi Shows True Form in 2023

Massimo Rivola: "The authentic Bezzecchi is the one we saw last year, not the one from this season… His talent is unmistakable."

The true Marco Bezzecchi is the racer who clinched victory in three races and secured third place in the MotoGP World Championship last year, not the competitor who is currently positioned 11th in this year's rankings.

Aprilia Racing's CEO, Maverick Vinales, has secured a multi-year contract with a promising young Italian rider, who will join forces with current Pramac Ducati front-runner, Jorge Martin, starting in 2025.

Despite Bezzecchi's impressive performance with an older bike last season, he has found it challenging to adapt to the GP23, managing only one podium finish in the first seven races.

This situation has placed Bezzecchi in eleventh position in the world championship standings, making him the fourth-highest ranked GP23 rider. Ahead of him are Marc Marquez in third, his new VR46 teammate Fabio di Giannantonio in ninth, and Alex Marquez in tenth.

"When a rider excels one year but doesn't maintain that performance the next, you start questioning whether it's a lack of talent or if there are other underlying issues, which could stem from various factors beyond just technical ones," Rivola commented.

"In conclusion, I believe the genuine Bez is the one we saw last year, not the version we've seen this year. That's why I still hope they retain this year's 'imposter' to achieve improved outcomes for us!" Rivola quipped.

"I have a great deal of confidence in his quickness and skill."

'We need to make sure everything is perfectly coordinated'

When questioned about what stood out to him regarding Bezzecchi, Rivola highlighted the rider's skill in wet conditions and his commanding win at the Indian MotoGP last year.

"There were definitely some aspects that stood out to me," Rivola commented. "One notable thing was his ability to ride in wet conditions. Another remarkable moment was when we all competed on a track that was unfamiliar to everyone [India]. He secured a victory with a significant lead [8.6 seconds]."

"There are clear indicators of talent. It's evident that this individual possesses something unique."

One might say that this year his performance isn't up to par, especially when considering that Marc Marquez, who rides the same bike, consistently competes for top positions.

"I believe that occasionally, external influences, not merely technical ones, can affect performance. The challenging and fascinating part is discovering the key to aligning all the elements perfectly."

Using Maverick as an example in Austin, I would anticipate him becoming a world champion. However, things don't always go as planned. Therefore, we must figure out how to make everything fall into place.

Rivola mentioned that Bezzecchi's personality appears to blend traits from Aprilia's existing victorious factory team members – Aleix Espargaro, who will retire after this season, and Vinales, who is moving to Tech3 KTM – along with the incoming Martin.

“It seems to me that Bezzecchi has a rather Latin temperament, which we're familiar with. For instance, Aleix is one of those people. Jorge Martin also appears to be similar. Therefore, the Aprilia racing garage will be quite an inspiring environment, and I'm excited about it.”

"To start with, our primary focus this year will be on further developing the bike. It's crucial for us to comprehend the requirements moving forward."

The riders are transitioning from the top-performing Ducati, which is the only MotoGP bike they've ever ridden. This experience might be beneficial in guiding them, assuming the direction they need to follow is clear. However, there's also a possibility that they may continue seeking something that our bike isn't capable of offering.

"It's hard to foresee the outcome, but ultimately, I believe selecting these two racers, Bezzecchi and Martin, is the optimal decision we could have made."

Although the official Aprilia team roster is now confirmed, the selection of riders for the Trackhouse satellite team, which includes Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira, remains undetermined for the 2025 season.

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