Bezzecchi's unwavering faith in Aprilia's MotoGP project pays off with Portuguese Grand Prix victory

Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia Racing secured a dominant victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix, a result fueled by his steadfast belief in the team’s developmental trajectory despite earlier challenges in the 2024 MotoGP season. The Italian rider’s performance in Portimao marked a significant milestone for Aprilia, which has emerged as a consistent challenger to Ducati’s dominance in the premier motorcycle racing series.

Aprilia’s ascendance has been a notable feature of the MotoGP season, with the team demonstrating increasing competitiveness since the middle of the year. However, the factory team’s pursuit of a Sunday victory entirely on merit remained elusive until the Portuguese Grand Prix. While Aprilia has achieved success through independent teams and favorable circumstances, Bezzecchi’s lights-to-flag win from pole position represented a definitive statement of the team’s capabilities.

Earlier in the season, Marco Bezzecchi’s victory at the British Grand Prix in May was partly contingent on Fabio Quartararo’s retirement from a commanding lead. Additionally, Raul Fernandez’s triumph at the Australian Grand Prix in October, while significant, was achieved while representing the independent Trackhouse team. These results, while positive for Aprilia’s extended program, did not fully reflect the factory team’s potential.

Prior to the Portuguese Grand Prix, Bezzecchi had faced a series of frustrating near-misses, often demonstrating exceptional pace but failing to convert it into a Sunday victory. This pattern was particularly evident in the Indonesian and Australian rounds, where he was frequently among the fastest riders. However, a crash involving Marc Marquez at Mandalika and a subsequent double long-lap penalty at Phillip Island hampered his chances, ultimately paving the way for Fernandez’s victory in Australia.

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Speaking after his emphatic win at Portimao, Bezzecchi emphasized his enduring faith in the Aprilia project. "We were able to improve day by day," he said. "Of course, I always believed in the project, and I’ve always been confident with my bike. The engineers and the whole factory in Noale worked super well always. It’s true that at the beginning, we struggled a bit, but then we were able to improve."

Bezzecchi highlighted the extensive efforts undertaken by the team to address initial setbacks and enhance the bike’s performance. "It’s been a long journey for sure until now, because we started very far [from the pace at] the winter test and then we started to improve day by day, hour by hour, on the bike. And the guys worked super well especially all [at] the factory, they were studying and analyzing 24/7."

The collaborative approach between the rider, engineers, and test team has been instrumental in Aprilia’s progress. "The work on track with the engineers, Fabiano [Sterlacchini], but also Sava [test rider Lorenzo Savadori], helped a lot for improving the bike," Bezzecchi noted. "And of course, riding more and more, I also got to know the bike better. We built something better day by day."

Despite the significant improvements, Bezzecchi acknowledged that there is still room for further development. "Of course, we are still missing something. You can see at some tracks, we suffer a little bit more. But also every Friday, we are a bit [further from the pace]. We had to start [weekends] always from zero – but for the moment, it’s going well and hopefully we can continue like this."

The Portuguese win has effectively secured Bezzecchi’s position as the rider most likely to finish the championship in third place, behind the Marquez brothers. As the season approaches its finale in Valencia, Bezzecchi holds a substantial 35-point lead over fourth-placed Francesco Bagnaia. For Bagnaia to surpass Bezzecchi, he would need to secure maximum points in Valencia while Bezzecchi fails to score.

The Aprilia Racing Team is an Italian motorcycle racing team that competes in the MotoGP World Championship. It is the factory team of Aprilia, a motorcycle manufacturer owned by Piaggio. Aprilia has a long and successful history in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, with numerous world championships in the 125cc, 250cc, and Superbike classes. The team returned to MotoGP as a factory team in 2015, after a previous stint as a manufacturer between 2002 and 2004.

The team’s current riders are Marco Bezzecchi and Maverick Viñales. Bezzecchi joined the team for the 2024 season, while Viñales has been with Aprilia since 2021. The team’s bike is the Aprilia RS-GP, a 1,000cc four-cylinder machine developed by Aprilia Racing.

Aprilia’s history in MotoGP has been marked by periods of both success and challenge. In its initial foray into the series from 2002 to 2004, the team achieved some promising results but struggled to consistently compete with the established manufacturers. Upon their return in 2015, Aprilia embarked on a long-term project focused on developing a competitive bike and building a strong team.

Over the years, Aprilia has made steady progress, gradually closing the gap to the frontrunners. The team has invested heavily in its technical infrastructure, recruiting experienced engineers and developing advanced technologies. In recent seasons, Aprilia has emerged as a genuine contender, securing podium finishes and challenging for race wins.

The 2024 season has been a breakthrough year for Aprilia, with the team consistently demonstrating its potential. The arrival of Marco Bezzecchi has further strengthened the rider lineup, and the team’s continued development of the RS-GP bike has yielded significant improvements in performance. Aprilia’s success in the Portuguese Grand Prix underscores its commitment to excellence and its determination to compete at the highest level of MotoGP.

The Valencia finale presents an opportunity for Aprilia to solidify its position as a leading force in MotoGP. With Bezzecchi aiming to secure third place in the championship standings and Viñales eager to add to the team’s victory tally, Aprilia is poised to end the season on a high note. The team’s continued progress and unwavering dedication suggest a bright future for Aprilia Racing in the years to come.