Aprilia Racing has officially launched its 2026 MotoGP campaign, unveiling the all-new RS-GP26 at Milan’s Sky Studios, with Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín confirmed as its factory riders for the upcoming season. Check out the bike, spec’s and rider quotes. Press: Aprilia Australia

The proudly Italian RS-GP26 continues Aprilia Racing’s aggressive technical and sporting trajectory, representing the next evolution of a project that delivered the most successful season in the manufacturer’s MotoGP history in 2025. While the bike retains Aprilia Racing’s iconic colour scheme, the 2026 livery introduces a powerful new symbol — the lion — as a central visual theme.

The Lion of Saint Mark, or Leone Alato, symbol of Venice and closely tied to the region surrounding Aprilia Racing’s Noale headquarters, embodies the values the team believes define its MotoGP identity: strength, determination, courage and resilience. According to Aprilia, the lion represents a team that never backs down and continues to grow stronger through adversity.

Aprilia enters 2026 aiming to surpass its record-breaking 2025 season, which saw the brand finish second in the Manufacturers’ Championship on 418 points — the first time it has broken the 400-point barrier — and third in the Riders’ Championship with Marco Bezzecchi scoring 353 points, the best individual result in Aprilia Racing MotoGP history. The season included 19 podiums, three Sprint wins, four Grand Prix victories, five pole positions and the landmark 300th win for the Noale-based manufacturer at the Australian Grand Prix, later extended to 302 victories overall, reinforcing Aprilia’s status as the most successful European manufacturer in World Grand Prix racing history.

Bezzecchi returns for his second season aboard the RS-GP after a standout 2025 campaign that established him as Aprilia Racing’s most successful MotoGP rider to date. The Italian heads into 2026 focused on continuing the upward momentum and fighting consistently at the front.

Jorge Martín, racing with number 89, begins a new chapter with Aprilia following an injury-affected 2025 season. The Spanish rider is determined to return to full fitness and re-establish himself as a contender for race wins and podiums.

Lorenzo Savadori remains a key figure within the project, continuing in his role as official test rider while also contesting selected wildcard appearances. His contribution will be vital as Aprilia balances ongoing RS-GP26 development with early groundwork for the significant regulation changes coming in 2027.

Technically, the RS-GP26 represents a comprehensive evolution of Aprilia’s MotoGP prototype. Every area of the bike has been refined, including aerodynamics, chassis architecture, electronics and the V4 engine, with extensive development carried out on all components not restricted by regulations. Led by technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini, the Noale engineering team has focused on maximising performance during the final era of 1000cc MotoGP machinery.

With extreme aerodynamics, ride-height devices and further engine optimisation, Aprilia claims the RS-GP26 is the fastest prototype the factory has ever produced. Support from Trackhouse MotoGP Team — featuring Raúl Fernández and Ai Ogura — continues to play a crucial role, providing additional data and reinforcing Aprilia’s long-term development strategy.

Rider & Team Quotes:

Marco Bezzecchi

Marco Bezzecchi

“I’m happy to finally be getting back to talking about bikes. I am anxious to start and we have a lot of work to do, although we never really stopped. In Noale, the company is working intensely and I have been training constantly. I am highly motivated and I can’t wait to have fun in the saddle. The 2025 season finale was extremely positive and that boosts our confidence even more. The goal is to start the season straight away in the best possible way and to continue doing a good job.”

Jorge Martin

Jorge Martín

“After our experience last year along with Aprilia and the latest extremely important tests in Valencia, the goal now is to keep growing together. I’m sure there will be a lot of work to do at the start of the season, but we are well aware of where we need to improve. This will be a year where I want to get back to battling for the top spots and winning. As soon as I am at 100% fitness, we’ll be ready for anything.”

Lorenzo Savadori

Lorenzo Savadori

“I can’t wait for 2026 to begin. The primary objective is to continue improving the bike, advancing the work and the path we began in 2025, in order to see Aprilia consistently at the front. I’ll be riding in a few wild-card spots throughout the season, and I’ll be giving it my all to contribute to developing the RS-GP26. In addition to all this, around April, we’ll also begin working and developing in view of 2027.”

Massimo Rivola – CEO, Aprilia Racing

“We’re tackling the 2026 season well aware of what we are and where we want to be. We are coming from a solid 2025 which allowed us to reach an extremely high level of competitiveness, and the goal now is to battle in every race. We’ll be following two different paths in the garage. On one side, we’re keen to pick up from the same level where we left off at the end of last season with Marco, and on the other, we’ll be building a lot with Jorge. We believe very much in the RS-GP26 and we maintain that it has great potential, as do our riders.”

Aprilia RS-GP26 Technical Highlights
1000cc 90° V4 with pneumatic valves
Over 276hp, revving beyond 17,500rpm
Minimum weight: 157kg
Seamless six-speed gearbox
Magneti Marelli unified ECU
Öhlins suspension front and rear
Brembo carbon brakes with GP4 monobloc calipers
Carbon fibre swingarm and aluminium alloy chassis
Michelin tyres and Marchesini forged magnesium wheels

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