Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola believes Marc Marquez has emerged as the favourite to win this year's MotoGP world championship, even as the title battle remains one of the closest in recent years.
The championship reaches its midway stage with just 24 points separating the top five riders, setting up what promises to be a fiercely contested second half of the season. Despite the tight standings, Rivola believes Marquez has become the benchmark after his recent run of performances.
Marquez's title challenge looked to be in serious trouble earlier in the year when he found himself 102 points behind after the Italian Grand Prix, having struggled with an ongoing right shoulder injury. Since then, the Ducati rider has mounted an impressive comeback to thrust himself back into championship contention.
Source: EVO India
Rivola acknowledged the strength of the field but believes Marquez's experience and ability to deliver under pressure make him the rider everyone else must beat.
While naming Marquez as the favourite, the Aprilia boss stressed that the championship is far from decided, with several contenders still firmly in the hunt as the season enters its decisive phase.
Aprilia remains one of those challengers, with Marco Bezzecchi and reigning world champion Jorge Martin continuing to lead the manufacturer's title hopes. Rivola believes consistency over the remaining rounds will be crucial, particularly as injuries, sprint races and increasingly competitive machinery leave little room for mistakes.
Marquez himself has previously downplayed suggestions that he is the clear favourite, while Martin has also pointed to the Ducati rider as the benchmark in the championship fight.
With the title race finely balanced heading into the second half of the campaign, Rivola expects the battle to go down to the wire. But if one rider has gained the psychological edge, he believes it is the six-time MotoGP champion, whose resurgence has once again made him the reference point for the rest of the grid.
