World title in Aprilia’s sights: Massimo Rivola reveals Jorge Martin’s extra weapon

The Aprilia is monopolizing the championship and the latest races with stratospheric results. The latest feat was just at Le Mans, where the top three finishers in the long race were all Aprilia plates with Jorge Martin, Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura. Just the Bez became the first Italian rider to win five podiums in the first five GPs since Valentino Rossi in 2015 while Jorge Martin returned to success 588 days after his last victory. Now at Aprilia they are dreaming big, not least because reigning world champion Marc Marquez is struggling with several physical problems. Meanwhile, CEO Massimo Rivola, speaking to Marca, showed all the team’s confidence ahead of the rest of the season.

“It’s a historic weekend for two reasons: first, because we had never monopolized a podium with Aprilia. Second, because exactly one year ago, here at Le Mans, Jorge Martin came running to tell us he was leaving.” In addition, according to Massimo Rivola, the 2024 World Champion can do even better: “He still lacks some explosiveness.”

In addition, Massimo Rivola recalled Jorge’s ‘bad moment’ last year: “At first I couldn’t accept that he thought we weren’t strong enough -he said- then there was also a human component, because Jorge went through very difficult moments.”

According to the Aprilia CEO, the Spanish rider has a particular strength: “Jorge has already won and lost a World Championship by fighting until the end and in the management of the championship this counts.” Then, he focused on ‘Bez’: “Marco’s second place is worth so much. Maybe in the past he would have risked too much to win and maybe he would have made a mistake -he said- seeing both of them in front was a huge satisfaction.”

One thing is certain in the Aprilia box: in 2027 Jorge Martin’s seat will be occupied by Pecco Bagnaia, but now it seems that the Spaniard is at ease in the house of Noale and that both want to try to make history: “Aprilia has always helped me, I am very happy with them,” said the 89.