Aprilia's MotoGP Rise: From Underdog to Consistent Frontrunner
In a sport where dominance is fleeting, Aprilia has defied the odds. In a MotoGP season where Marc Marquez and Ducati have been the main contenders, Aprilia has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, consistently challenging for victories. But here's the intriguing part: they've done it by addressing their previous shortcomings.
In the past 30 months, only Ducati and Aprilia have won dry-weather races, showcasing their prowess. However, while Aprilia has been a thorn in Ducati's side, preventing a complete sweep, 2025 has been a year of transformation. The Noale factory has taken a significant step forward, focusing on the one aspect they lacked—consistency.
Aprilia's Evolution:
Year | GP Wins | Sprint Wins | GP Podiums | Points | Standings
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
2025* | 1 | 1 | 6 | 308 | 2nd
2024 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 302 | 3rd
2023 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 326 | 3rd
*Season ongoing
The RS-GP, once unbeatable on specific circuits like Barcelona, had a narrow performance window, a weakness exploited by KTM in 2023 and 2024. This is reminiscent of Ducati's situation in the late 2010s, when their bike excelled on straights but struggled in corners.
But Aprilia is turning the tables. As MotoGP approaches a regulation cycle change, they've transformed the RS-GP into a versatile prototype, capable of competing on all circuit types. CEO Massimo Rivola acknowledges this evolution, stating that while they were always fast on flowing parts, they are now more competitive on stop/go tracks, making the bike better overall.
And this is the part most people miss—a leadership change at the end of 2024 marked a turning point. Fabiano Sterlacchini, Gigi Dall’Igna's former right-hand man, joined Aprilia as technical director after his KTM stint. Under his guidance, Aprilia has achieved podium finishes in 6 of the last 9 grands prix and resolved long-standing issues, such as overheating in high-temperature Asian tracks.
Sterlacchini emphasizes the importance of consistency and self-belief in the team's success. While technical details remain confidential, Aprilia's growing reliability has boosted confidence, showcasing the power of motivation in sports.
The Battle for Second Place:
Despite Aprilia's progress, they've lost some ground in Barcelona, a track where they once dominated. In 2023, they secured a 1-2 finish, but in 2024 and 2025, they faced stronger competition. Sterlacchini attributes this to relative performance, stating that while Aprilia has improved, others have made bigger strides, focusing on tracks they consider weaker.
As the season nears its end, Aprilia is in a tight battle with KTM for second place in the constructors' championship. KTM, with its new aero package, has shown resurgence, but Aprilia maintains a lead due to KTM's inconsistent race performances. Sterlacchini highlights the goal of finishing in the top five in the riders' championship and securing second place in the constructors' standings, a realistic aim given Aprilia's recent form.
However, Aprilia's rider lineup has been a challenge, with injuries affecting their performance. If they can overcome this hurdle, they could become a formidable challenger to Ducati in the upcoming season.
What do you think about Aprilia's MotoGP journey? Is their focus on consistency the key to success, or is it just one piece of the puzzle? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
