Marco Bezzecchi blossomed in his first year with Aprilia and became the driving force behind the project, as technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini emphasizes.

In his first year as an Aprilia factory rider, Marco Bezzecchi has not only blossomed in sporting terms and had his strongest MotoGP season to date. He has also had a significant influence on the team’s development direction. Technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini sees him as a key component in the team’s progress.

Bezzecchi was already a driving force in the development process at the start of the season, explains Sterlacchini. Looking back, he “fully” confirms the strong impression the Italian made in the first tests.

“Marco was the tip of the arrow in our process,” he says. Many technical investigations and solutions arose directly from his comments. Without his contribution, “it wouldn’t have been impossible, but it would definitely have been much more difficult.”

Bezzecchi fulfilled his responsibilities as a factory rider

Sterlacchini particularly emphasizes that Bezzecchi took on responsibility like a true factory rider. The move to the factory team always brings “more pressure and responsibility,” but Bezzecchi turned that into an opportunity.

“You have to turn a problem into an opportunity,” emphasizes the technical director. Marco “believed in the project,” prepared intensively, and learned “not only to train physically, but also to manage races and weekends,” enthuses Sterlacchini. The result is “an incredible surprise.”

From an engineering perspective, Bezzecchi’s strengths are immediately apparent: his feel for corner exits is “pure natural talent.” How he doses the throttle has been a key factor in his consistency. In the braking phase, on the other hand, there was a need for adjustment at the start of the season. Work was done to adapt his riding style to the characteristics of the Aprilia—with success.

Getting used to Aprilia and a few updates to success

Bezzecchi himself recently said that he felt really comfortable on the RS-GP for the first time at Assen. This was just when he held his own in the big duel against Marc Marquez.

Sterlacchini confirms that it was less a new component and more Bezzecchi’s growing understanding of the bike. “We never brought anything completely new during the season,” he explains. Only the Mugello aerodynamics package and a minor engine revolution were major updates.

But one detail proved decisive: after analyzing the sprint in Portimao, Aprilia refined the anti-wheelie and traction strategies through electronic tuning, based on Bezzecchi’s precise feedback. “The result was clear to see in Portimao.”

More top speed? Aprilia is working on Bezzecchi’s request

This exact setup was then retained and became the basis for his late-season form, in which he won the last two Grand Prix races.

When asked about his winter wish list, Bezzecchi recently replied unequivocally: more top speed. Sterlacchini admits that this is “not super easy” due to the engine freeze. Nevertheless, Aprilia is working on possibilities. He also emphasizes that top speed is not just about engine power, but also drag, wheelie behavior, and traction. In Portimao, optimizations to the electronics had already resulted in a higher top speed at the end of the straights. Nevertheless, he promises: “We are trying to fulfill Marco’s wish.”

Brivio: “A surprising but logical rise”

Davide Brivio, team boss of the Aprilia satellite team Trackhouse, is also impressed by Bezzecchi’s season. “It was a surprise,” he says, “for several reasons.”

On the one hand, Bezzecchi was practically alone after Jorge Martin’s early injury. Secondly, a rider coming from Ducati usually takes a long time to adjust. Internally, there were many question marks because he had no Aprilia experience whatsoever. But the doubts were unfounded.

Bezzecchi is “a very hard worker,” explains Brivio. He invests enormously, is fully committed and—crucially—deeply connected to Aprilia. “He believes in the project. He is proud to be part of the group. And that is very important.”

Even though the start of the season was difficult, with mistakes and poor qualifying results, Bezzecchi “continued to believe and work hard, and it paid off.” For Brivio, one thing is clear: “He is now a great asset for Aprilia.”