For the past six years, Ducati has been the dominant force in MotoGP with an undisputed lead characterised by its sixth consecutive Constructors’ title. However, the start of the 2026 season brought a change.
Aprilia, a team that started as the underdog of MotoGP, has recently surged into contention. Their rise comes from smart engineering, strategic rider choices, and a culture of resilience. The competitive balance has shifted, and Aprilia is now the team forcing Ducati to respond.
Aprilia, the Underdog
Aprilia debuted in MotoGP in 2002 with the Aprilia RS Cube, an innovative yet difficult bike. The bike struggled with chassis integration and was retired in 2004. The project showcased ambition; however, it also highlighted how far Aprilia still was from other manufacturers and teams.
Aprilia Racing returned to its factory status in 2015, but it wasn’t until 2021 at the British Grand Prix that it achieved its first podium in the modern era with Aleix Espargaró. That milestone marked the start of Aprilia’s upward trajectory.
In 2025, Aprilia had its most successful season to date, finishing second in the Constructors’ Championship, with a record-breaking 418 points and a new lineup: Jorge Martín and Marco Bezzecchi. Ahead of them, Ducati scored 768, still leading with a significant gap.
Heading into 2026 and following the post-season test results in Valencia, Aprilia proved its momentum wasn’t a fluke. The results obtained from a bike and rider lineup proved that Aprilia had a clear development direction.
Marco Bezzecchi’s Impact on Aprilia
Marco Bezzecchi joined Aprilia Racing in 2025 after the departure of Maverick Viñales. After a short period of adaptation, in his first season, Bezzecchi delivered three race wins, three sprint wins, 15 podiums, and five pole positions. Additionally, Bezzecchi finished third in the championship, the best result for an Aprilia Racing rider in MotoGP history.
The Italian is a rider who thrives on corner speeds, aggressive mid-corner commitment, and consistency. Aprilia Racing offers stable braking and strong mechanical grip that gives him the tools to maximise his strengths.
His and the team’s momentum carried into 2026, with a successful start to the season. Bezzecchi opened the season with a modern-era record of five consecutive wins and 121 consecutive laps led. Despite the recent setbacks, his dominance had positioned him as the early championship leader.
Jorge Martín, a Reborn Contender
Jorge Martín joined Aprilia after years of near misses at the Ducati Lenovo Team. The Spanish rider quickly became another pillar of Aprilia Racing’s success. Martín found in Aprilia a bike that matched his strengths: late-braking aggression, high-commitment corner entry, and a willingness to push the front tyre deeper.
What makes Martín’s contribution significant is his consistency. While Bezzecchi is more of an explosive race-winner, Martín is more consistent and analytical. His tyre management and adaptability make him a reliable threat across all circuits.
The Aprilia lineup is one of the most balanced in MotoGP. They push each other without destabilising the team. The partnership gives Aprilia Racing two riders capable of fighting for the championship.
SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team Success
Aprilia’s satellite team, SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team, has also contributed significantly to the bike’s development. Raúl Fernández and Ai Ogura’s start to the season has strengthened Aprilia Racing’s overall competitiveness.
Together, the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team has secured 6 podiums, including three 1-2 podiums and Ogura’s maiden win in MotoGP. Consistent point‑scoring riders and improved qualifying performances have shown how well the RS‑GP platform works beyond the main garage.
Ducati Early-Season Struggles
As Aprilia’s teams have thrived, Ducati has experienced significant issues that shifted the competitive balance. From technical setbacks and tyre failures to inconsistent results across their lineup, Ducati struggled to keep up with Aprilia’s dominance.
Ducati’s 2026 bike presented a more complex chassis and aero package. That posed a challenge, not only for the factory team riders, but also for those in the satellite teams.
In addition to the complexity, riders experienced issues of overheating fronts and unpredictable rear grip. Ducati Lenovo Team has been struggling to collect multi-team data, weakening the development of its bike. These problems cost Ducati Lenovo valuable points in early races.
To all the technical and mechanical setbacks, Ducati Lenovo also had to deal with lineup instability. While Francesco Bagnaia struggled to adapt to the new bike, Marc Márquez had to recover from several unfortunate injuries.
In BK8 Gresini Racing, Álex Márquez and Fermín Aldeguer continue to develop the 2026 Desmosedici while dealing with the same front‑tyre overheating and rear‑grip instability that affected the factory team. The second satellite squad, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team with Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio, struggles to replicate the previous year’s competitiveness.
The New MotoGP
The 2026 season has opened a new chapter. Ducati is no longer untouchable, as Aprilia is building a new dominance. Both constructors will be engaging in a very open championship fight.
MotoGP has entered a new era. Aprilia is at the forefront, and Ducati is chasing. Now that Aprilia has caught up to Ducati, the question remains whether Ducati will be able to retaliate in time.