Aprilia has signed VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi on a multi-year contract to partner Jorge Martin at its factory MotoGP team starting in 2025.
As reported by Autosport, Bezzecchi will join the Noale-based marque after three seasons with Ducati’s satellite VR46 squad. During his tenure with VR46, he secured three grand prix victories and achieved a best finish of third in the standings in 2023.
This move fulfills Bezzecchi’s ambition of becoming a factory rider. Although he initially hoped to climb the ranks within Ducati, he ultimately chose to move to Aprilia. Bezzecchi had previously turned down an offer to race the latest-spec Desmosedici at Pramac in 2024, opting instead to stay with VR46 on the previous year’s GP23 machinery for the sake of continuity.
However, Ducati’s decision to sign six-time champion Marc Marquez to join Francesco Bagnaia in 2025 dashed Bezzecchi’s hopes of a promotion within the Ducati ranks. Struggling at the start of the 2024 season with just one podium in the first seven rounds and trailing behind teammate Fabio di Giannantonio in the championship, Bezzecchi has now committed to Aprilia.
Bezzecchi’s move to Aprilia is also significant for the brand’s marketing, as he becomes the first Italian rider in their stable in recent seasons. Spanish riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales have dominated these races.
With Bezzecchi’s recruitment, Aprilia will enter the 2025 season with an entirely new lineup. Espargaro, who has been instrumental in Aprilia’s rise from backmarker to regular race winner. Announced his retirement from MotoGP at the end of 2024 and is expected to take on a test rider role with Aprilia. Vinales will transition to the factory-supported Tech3 KTM squad in 2025, partnering with Enea Bastianini.
