MotoGP, Rivola: “Martin and Bez satisfied with the bike, there is a good atmosphere”

Bologna, 20 November 2024 – Great confidence and great optimism in Aprilia for the new course. The arrivals of George Martin, the reigning world champion, and Marco Bezzecchi, a Ducati rider for many years, have given the Noale company enthusiasm and feeling, a new air after having closed the chapter, however positive, with Alex Espargaro, who retired from racing to become a Honda tester, and Maverick Vinales, who moved to KTM. Aprilia therefore welcomes the world champion, who still has to dissolve the reserve on the number one in the fairing, and a very talented rider like Bez, with the aim of giving Ducati a hard time for the world title. Difficult, very, given the great domination of Borgo Panigale, which will also give an official bike to Marquez, but the first feelings are good.  

Rivola: “The air is beautiful”

Aprilia has grown a lot in these years thanks to the work of Roman Albesian and the developments set by Aleix and Maverick, with GPs also won, but there was a significant decline in the second part of the 2024 season, where the bike always went well in qualifying but less so in the race. It is no coincidence that in addition to the riders, there are several technicians also changed, with the arrival of Fabiano Sterlacchini, ex Ducati and KTM, and Daniele Romagnoli, who followed Martin from Pramac to Aprilia, a sign of a serious intention to complete the last step to get to the top. Meanwhile, at the Barcelona tests there were the first indications of the 2025 bike, which the two riders like at first sight. The story of Massimo rivola, CEO of Aprilia: “I really like the atmosphere in the box – his words to Sky Sport – Both Jorge and Marco They are very happy and the first feeling is important and we are satisfied because we both liked the bike more than we thought”. Both Bez and Martin tried both the 2025 and also the 2024 bike, which they did not know coming from Ducati, and both have noted improvement: “The positive aspect is that we both liked the 2025 version more than the 2024, so we have a clear path to follow during the winter and we can be optimistic,” Rivola said. Now they will be two months at full capacity in Noale to be ready for the first tests in February 2025, with Martin and Bezzecchi who will provide all the necessary indications to technicians and engineers: “We have a new director technical and with a lot of experience, then they are new technicians and all this will keep us on the gas for the next two months", Rivola's charge. The next appointment will in fact be in Sepang in Malaysia for testing from 5th to 7th February, then Buriram for further testing on 12th and 13th and finally the off to the season, still in Thailand, on March 2nd with the first GP.

Read also - Marquez satisfied with the new Ducati: "It's easier to ride"