Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola believes Marc Marquez’s approach to the 2026 MotoGP season offers valuable lessons for his own team, particularly when it comes to managing a championship fight.
Marquez has enjoyed a strong run in recent races, winning four of the last six Grands Prix. His latest victory at Aragon moved him up to second in the championship, where he now sits between Aprilia riders Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.
What has impressed Rivola most, however, is not simply Marquez’s outright speed. The Aprilia boss highlighted the Ducati rider’s ability to limit the damage on difficult weekends before making the most of his opportunities when victory is within reach.
At Assen, Marquez collected 13 points, while he added another 10 at Silverstone despite appearing to struggle at both events. Rather than taking unnecessary risks, he focused on bringing home valuable points.
Source: Motorcycle News
Rivola believes that approach has played an important role in Marquez’s championship comeback. The Spaniard started the recent stretch of the season 102 points behind the leader, but has now reduced the deficit to just 19 points.
“Marc is one of the greatest riders in history, and having the chance to fight against him is fantastic,” Rivola said.
“He knows that consistency is important. When things are not going his way, he brings home the result without taking unnecessary risks. Then, when the opportunity to win comes, he delivers.”
For Rivola, that ability to judge when to attack and when to settle for points is a major strength that Aprilia’s riders can learn from.
“There is a lot we can learn from him, from his intelligence and ability,” he added.
Aprilia has enjoyed a breakthrough season, but Martin and Bezzecchi have also experienced inconsistent results. Martin leads the championship by nine points despite having only one Grand Prix victory this year, compared with four each for Marquez and Bezzecchi. His consistency and availability have been key, as he has not missed a race through injury.
The contrast was clear at Aragon. Martin had dominated the previous weekend at Silverstone, taking pole, winning the sprint and finishing second in the Grand Prix. But at Aragon, he could manage only two fifth-place finishes.
With the championship entering its decisive stages, Rivola knows Aprilia cannot afford to become frustrated when its riders finish outside the podium.
He believes the team must remember that it is still challenging Ducati, a manufacturer that has dominated MotoGP for much of the past four seasons.
“We should not be disappointed with fourth, fifth or even third place,” Rivola said. “We are fighting against giants and people who are much more accustomed to winning than we are.”
Rivola remains confident that both Martin and Bezzecchi can fight for the title, but he knows Aprilia must continue improving until the final race.
The message from the Aprilia camp is clear: beating Marquez may require more than simply having the fastest bike. Knowing when to push, when to accept a result and how to maximise every opportunity could prove just as important in the battle for the 2026 MotoGP crown.
