If something is clear and clear at the end of the MotoGP campaign, it is that the Italian and European factories continue to rule with authority in the motorcycling elite. Despite the efforts of the Japanese, only one motorcycle remains within the Top 10 of the premier category, ninth is the 2021 champion Fabio Quartararo with the Yamaha and the others in a wasteland. Ducati is still on another planet, with six consecutive constructors’ titles, although its neighbors in Noale are getting closer. With an inspired and hard-working rider at the helm, Aprilia has been cutting tenths off the Desmosedici GP. This weekend, the RS-GP was the fastest in one lap and overall in the race, with an unquestionable victory for the Rimini rider on the Portimao roller coaster that leaves the Italian pairing two points away from confirming third place in the championship standings.
The fall of Pecco Bagnaia, in another fateful day for the three-time world champion, finished paving the way for him, who has already signed his most victorious campaign among the greats, with two wins for the Italian and another for Raúl Fernández from Madrid, from the client team Trackhouse. The rise of the rider and the machine will cut two consecutive Ducati campaigns on the podium of the event in Valencia. With eight podiums on Sunday, and another four wins and pole position on Saturday, the Italian rivals are rubbing their hands thinking about 2026. “Let’s have fun,” ventured Massimo Rivola, head of the project.
The race did not have much history, although there was struggle in the intermediate positions. Bezzecchi escaped ahead, unattainable for the runner-up, second for the seventh time this year, and Pedro Acosta, who with the KTM continues to close the gap with respect to the Italian factories. The Austrians are a bit far away, but nevertheless much closer than Honda and Yamaha. Since Marc Márquez regained the title in the Japanese GP and was injured the following week in Indonesia, precisely accidentally attacked by the protagonist of the day, MotoGP has seen how the chicken coop has finished stirring. Without the rooster on the track, four victories by four different drivers, and six in the last six grands prix.
In a course where Jorge Martín was called to lead the Aprilia project with the number one on the fairing, the injury nightmare cut short all the factory’s plans. In Noale they then focused on the promotion of Withouteven more so when the Madrid native launched an unexpected contractual push to jump from the burning ship. With the conflict already forgotten, but the current champion still in trouble, everyone
They now recognize the enormous merit of a Bezzecchi who has had to lead the development of a machine that did not start anywhere near as close to the Ducati.
“Marco has done a fantastic job on the track, as have all the workers at Noale, to take several steps forward with our bike,” said Fabiano Sterlacchini, another new and key figure in this step forward. “He has had to carry the entire weight of the development of this project, and he has the right speed, attitude and focus to be a champion one day,” added the technical foreman of the Italians.
Aprilia highlights how Bezzecchi, who has captured third place in the championship in all categories but has never claimed the title, is as fast as he is flexible when it comes to implementing the changes that the engineers suggest regarding his riding style and race strategy. He, however, prefers not to throw too many flowers at himself and focuses on continuing with a work that never stops when one acts as the flagship of a brand. “The only important thing is to work and keep improving,” said the 26-year-old driver, a member of the Valentino Rossi talent academy.
The rivals, having seen what they have seen, are already taking his registration as the world champion himself had already warned before being injured. “Without a doubt they are closer than ever. We have already seen that they took a step forward and they have simply been better than us, at least this Sunday,” conceded Álex Márquez, Ducati’s savior in these end-of-year grand prix in the absence of his brother and .
