Aprilia’s Hunt for Vinales’ Replacement: Exploring Options Beyond the Factory Team

Who is Aprilia's backup option following Maverick Vinales' departure?

Who will fill the vacant factory Aprilia position left by Maverick Vinales?

The unexpected switch of Maverick Vinales from the official Aprilia squad to Tech3 KTM for the 2025 season led to the release of an exclusive bonus episode of the Crash.net MotoGP podcast.

Having secured his initial victories for Aprilia this year and widely expected to step up as the leading figure for the team following Aleix Espargaro's retirement, Vinales is now set to attempt becoming the inaugural rider to achieve victory riding motorcycles from four different manufacturers.

The Spanish rider will team up with Enea Bastianini in a completely revamped Tech3 roster, but the question remains: who will step in to fill Vinales' shoes as Jorge Martin's partner on the Aprilia team?

"According to podcast host Jordan Moreland, the contract with Jorge Martin likely consumed a portion of the budget, yet Aprilia remains with a variety of choices," he remarked. "Their preference for an Italian racer is clear, with VR46's Bezzecchi and di Giannantonio being the prominent candidates."

"Aleix Espargaro was the one who mentioned Bezzecchi amidst the earlier speculation surrounding Bastianini's move to Aprilia," MotoGP editor Pete McLaren noted. "Having had a hand in bringing Jorge Martin over to Aprilia, Aleix likely has insight into the decisions being made by Aprilia's leadership.

"It's clear that Bez is aiming for a position as a factory rider. In the past, when he was competing in Moto2, Aprilia made an attempt to recruit him, but at that time, their motorcycle wasn't performing as well, leading him to choose a satellite Ducati role at VR46 instead."

"Additionally, di Giannantonio has been performing impressively. Currently, he ranks higher than Bezzecchi in this year’s standings, making him one of the grid's unsung talents. Despite his youth, there's significant potential for growth, and as of now, only Marc Marquez outpaces him on a GP23."

"With Maverick's departure from Aprilia, the team faces an opportunity to potentially add an Italian rider to their roster, given the available spots within the Factory team and Trackhouse."

"Could Trackhouse's Miguel Oliveira or Raul Fernandez be in the running?" inquired Moreland. "Miguel enjoys significant fame in Portugal, despite a season of underwhelming performances. Conversely, Fernandez is showing promise and has youth on his side. What criteria might Aprilia consider?"

"Companies typically prefer not to replace both of their primary racers with individuals who have no experience on their motorcycles," McLaren explained. "However, if you're moving someone up from a secondary team, they're already familiar with the motorcycle.

Martin is on his way in, currently topping the global championship rankings. Yet, there's uncertainty surrounding his performance on an Aprilia machine. While he has contributed to the evolution of Ducati motorcycles, his role there didn't encompass the level of leadership in development he's anticipated to undertake with Aprilia, a more compact initiative with a limited number of riders. Consequently, it remains to be seen how he adapts to this new position, especially considering he has yet to complete a circuit on an RS-GP.

Given the circumstances, it's reasonable to believe that with Aleix and now Vinales moving on, the Trackhouse team's prospects are looking up. Fernandez has been improving his game and is set to receive the '24 model bike post-Silverstone, which will enable a more accurate assessment of his current standing.

Oliveira has faced challenges this year, yet the simplest way forward for Aprilia might be if Oliveira quickly adapts to the 2024 model and begins to show results. This would allow them to elevate a rider who has already clinched victories in MotoGP races for KTM and is familiar with the RS-GP.

It should be mentioned that before Martin's signing, when questioned about his preference for Aleix's successor, Vinales expressed that Oliveira, who shares a similar riding approach to him, would be the ideal choice. However, currently, Oliveira has not matched the level of performance achieved by both Maverick and Aleix.

"It's quite the conundrum, right? Since the middle of 2021, Aprilia has seen the departure of the two individuals who have been at the forefront of their project. Are they prepared to let go of additional team members who possess knowledge of their motorcycle?"

"However, there are racers such as ex-MotoGP titleholder Joan Mir who are still deciding their next move. The connection between Davide Brivio and Suzuki is noteworthy. Although initially, people assumed it would lead to Mir joining Trackhouse, recent speculation hints at Mir possibly aligning with Aprilia's official racing team.

Mir has claimed the MotoGP title and has ridden for Suzuki as a factory competitor. Currently, he's with Honda as a factory rider. It seems his focus is more on his results rather than financial gains, and he's likely considering the Aprilia position with great interest.

"Additionally, Alex Rins, his previous colleague from the Suzuki team and another certified victor, might also be a contender. The nature of the Aprilia closely resembles that of a Yamaha or Suzuki, particularly in the way its V4 engine mimics the cornering speed style of an Inline4. Hence, this could be another factor why those riders are considered strong candidates."

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