– With Massimo Rivola at the helm, Aprilia Racing has evolved from an underdog to a serious title contender in MotoGP in just a few years. In an interview, Rivola talks about the team’s transformation, as well as the challenges and opportunities of the future, from aerodynamics to the new era of regulations.
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Question: “Under your leadership, Aprilia has risen from last place in the Constructors’ World Championship to the top – at least for now – of all MotoGP standings. How does that feel?”
Rivola: “After three races, unfortunately, one cannot talk about the final standings.”
“There is great satisfaction that drives the motivation we have here in Noale – one of the key ingredients of this company. The human drive, combined with the professionalism, skill, and talent of our people, along with the technological hardware we have here in Noale, has created an excellent blend of ingredients to achieve a good result so far.”
Growth and Transformation
Question: “Where has Aprilia changed the most since your arrival?”
Rivola: “Without a doubt, we have grown significantly in terms of personnel. We have strengthened areas that were previously only covered, but are now significantly expanded.”
“Let’s not forget that we were with Gresini until 2021. Then 2022 was the turning point and we became a factory team. We also created the trackside management structure with mechanics and gave the factory team a clear identity alongside the other four manufacturers.”
“It was a strong signal of trust from the Piaggio Group. Often, when you have more responsibility, you unleash your full potential.”
Innovation as Aprilia’s DNA
Question: “Beyond the results, what stands out most is how you have surpassed all rivals in aerodynamics. You are now the benchmark in MotoGP.
Rivola: “I’m glad you say that, because innovation is in Noale’s DNA. It always has been.”
“Even at its debut in what was not yet called MotoGP, when the four-stroke engines returned, the Cube – by the way, I have a beautiful one here in my office – was the first motorcycle with pneumatic valves, the first with a carbon airbox, the first with ride-by-wire. All things we take for granted today, but Aprilia had already tried them back then.”
Photo gallery: From RS Cube to RS-GP: All Aprilia MotoGP bikes since 2002
“This spirit of innovation has always been here in Noale, and that’s wonderful. From an aerodynamic point of view, if you remember the first race in Qatar, I immediately caused a stir with the famous ‘spoon’.”
“For me, that was both an internal and external message: We are not here just to participate, and we don’t want anyone to make fun of us. We want better formulated rules. And it was meant to show that if we work in the grey areas of aerodynamics, we can become the best.”
“We have invested heavily in this area, also thanks to highly qualified personnel and very motivated university graduates. This was one of the areas I personally believed in the most, because from my previous experience I knew how much performance could be found there.”
“I also think it’s right to give each motorcycle its own identity, to plant a flag, so to speak. I remember that in the past, the engine was ‘from Bologna’ when Ducati entered MotoGP. Today, I like to say that aerodynamics is clearly something that belongs more to us.”
The Most Important Principle: Courage
Question: “What is the fundamental principle you establish when developing a MotoGP bike?”
Rivola: “Courage. The courage to innovate, the courage to invent, not to be afraid of making mistakes.”
“If you don’t make mistakes, it means you’re slow. It’s the same for a rider. If they never make mistakes, they’re not really at the limit. If you’re always at the limit, you make mistakes. As Bezzecchi says: ‘You’re always on that line where it only takes a second to go from hero to idiot.'”
“We need the same approach. Sometimes we’ll look like fools, sometimes like heroes. What’s important is to know that we are neither one nor the other, but to believe that we can do our job well.”
Aprilia Rider Duel in Sight?
Question: “Bezzecchi has started the season almost perfectly, while Jorge Martin is improving from race to race. Should we expect an internal duel between them in the coming months, and are there rules for it?”
Rivola: (Laughs) “I will contact my colleague Andrea Stella to introduce the ‘black rules’!”
“It’s true that Martin is not yet at 100 percent physically, and I think he still lacks something right at the end of the races. Sometimes he still has to think about certain things instead of acting instinctively. Therefore, I believe there is still room for improvement for him.”
“Above all, he has a reference point in Marco, who is at a very high level, and the data is shared. For these reasons, Jorge currently has a big advantage – he has no pressure. Of course, the pressure is more on Marco, who has presented himself very strongly since the end of last year.”
“Jorge also has the advantage of having already won a World Championship, unlike Marco, so he has less to prove and can probably enjoy things with less pressure after what happened last year.”
“If we end up having this ‘problem’ of Aprilia riders fighting each other for the title, then great. I would love that. But I don’t think it will only be them. I think Marc Marquez will be in the fight. In fact, I believe the championship will only truly begin in Jerez.”
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“Then there’s Pedro Acosta, who is doing something truly remarkable. He is one of those riders who make a difference. And Ducati certainly hasn’t disappeared from the scene. They were first and second in the sprints.”
“I think they have a slight advantage over us on the soft tire, while we have a bit more on the medium. So the fact that they have some problems at the end of the races might work in our favor – but perhaps only temporarily. I think it will be a fantastic championship.”
The Fastest Bikes of All Time
Question: “You’ve said it many times: This era is special.”
Rivola: “I’ve always said that, even last year, when many called it a transitional season before the new rules.”
“I have always believed that it is actually the most important championship in history, because these are the fastest motorcycles of all time: 300 hp, almost 370 km/h in Mugello, extremely advanced aerodynamics, ride-height devices, motorcycles that reach 200 km/h in four seconds.”
“They are two-wheeled airplanes. And having the label of the fastest motorcycles of all time is something everyone wants – even those who say it’s not that important.”
Future of Aerodynamics
Question: “Aerodynamics is a big topic. Will it be less important in the 850cc era?”
Rivola: “It will have a different meaning, because we will simply have a smaller fairing to work with. But I am among those who believe it will continue to be extremely important.”
“We clearly want to maintain our technological leadership in this area. So it’s about having the courage to continue inventing something that can bring results – and perhaps be transferred to production motorcycles or at least our X models, which are very close to MotoGP.”
“Customers – the lucky ones who can afford them – want to try something that only MotoGP riders experience. Something that even an amateur can appreciate. Of course, that’s difficult because an amateur probably can’t generate aerodynamic effects like professionals. But it’s also a way to better understand what our riders achieve. MotoGP riders are truly special athletes.”
The New 850cc Aprilia
Question: “So far, we have already seen all 850cc bikes on track except Aprilia. When will we see your new weapon?”
Rivola: “We are definitely not in a hurry – and not because we don’t care about 2027. Simply put: We are not in a hurry.”
“After the Jerez week, we will start bringing the 2027 bike to the track during a private test. But it’s more of a hybrid prototype to collect some data on engine management and correlation with the test bench.”
“We are also not in a hurry because we don’t want to show our cards, but also because one of Aprilia’s strengths today is ‘Time-to-Market’. From the moment we have an idea until we bring it to the track, we are very fast. That is one of the secrets of performance in everything: speed in decisions and implementation.”
“Every year I have said that our best motorcycle will be the next one, simply because I have always seen a growing company. And when the company grows, the result will inevitably be better than the previous year.”
Dual Role: Aprilia and MSMA
Question: “You have a very important role at Aprilia Racing, but you are also president of the MSMA manufacturers’ association. How do you manage to balance both?”
Rivola: “In the past, this role was more symbolic. I took it very seriously. We went from three to four meetings a year to 30 to 40. There is also the possibility of a new five-year contract with Dorna and Liberty. There are opportunities to improve our conditions.”
“MotoGP has reached this level not only because Dorna has created strong rules, but also because manufacturers have invested enormous sums – over a billion euros in five years. I am not authorized to talk about what we are working on, out of respect for the other manufacturers.”
“So how do I manage both roles? It’s about priorities, enthusiasm, the desire to work, and the good fortune to have a job that matches one’s passion – and for me, that’s racing. There’s no real secret.”
Aprilia as a “National Team”?
Question: “Could Aprilia become something like an Italian national team?”
Rivola: “Well, I would certainly wish for that. I would like it to be seen that way.”
“It would be great if all the riders were Italian – including Lorenzo Savadori, our test rider – as well as the Piaggio Group as owner, which has invested more and more in us, and Noale itself with its history of 54 world titles. So yes, of course, you have to earn it on the track, through hard work. All the ingredients are there, we’ll see. That is definitely one of the goals.”
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