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Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola has stated that taking on Ducati star Marc Marquez for the MotoGP world title represents the ultimate test for his team, as the rivalry between the two Italian manufacturers heats up.
Following four straight seasons of Ducati dominance, Aprilia has emerged as a genuine title contender thanks to significant development strides made with the RS-GP. The factory outfit alongside satellite squad Trackhouse have already secured seven victories across the 16 Grand Prix races held so far, matching their combined win total from the previous three seasons.
Despite Aprilia boasting one of the most competitive bikes on the grid, Ducati sits level on points in the constructors' standings heading into the Indonesian Grand Prix. That is largely down to Marquez's sensational form, with the Spaniard triumphing in six of the last nine races for the factory team.
Rivola labeled the Marquez-Ducati partnership as the strongest possible package and revealed how he tried to inspire his Noale-based squad as early as last season:
"How difficult is it to beat Marc? I think it's the toughest challenge we could possibly face. Last year, I said it was possible — a message aimed primarily internally to make us believe in our own capabilities. This season, we have already done it several times. Whether we can sustain it until the very end is too early to tell. However, the mere fact that we are in this title fight brings us immense satisfaction because we are going up against the best combination seen in years. It proves that the work done in Noale has been truly exceptional."
With six rounds remaining in the championship, Aprilia boasts two riders in the title hunt — Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi. Meanwhile, in the Borgo Panigale camp, all efforts are focused squarely behind Marquez, who has cemented his position as Ducati's undisputed spearhead.
Heading into the race at the Mandalika Circuit, Martin holds a slender two-point advantage over Marquez, with Bezzecchi sitting third, 49 points adrift.
When asked whether fielding two title contenders is an advantage or a disadvantage for Aprilia, Rivola explained:
"First and foremost, it's something to celebrate. They will certainly take points off each other, but that's positive for the championship and for the sport as a whole. It's fantastic that more than one rider can be fast on this bike, and it sends a great signal to our future riders as well."
Ducati General Manager Gigi Dall'Igna also pointed out that having multiple riders at the front serves as an advantage for any manufacturer:
"I believe the more riders you have fighting at the sharp end, the better. Personally, I would prefer to have more than one rider at the front," Dall'Igna said during a press conference in Indonesia.
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