Massimo Rivola, Aprilia’s team principal, has expressed pride in his squad’s work, even as the MotoGP championship battle narrows to Marc Márquez and Ducati. With two Grands Prix remaining, tension rose after a collision between Márquez and Marco Bezzecchi in the sprint race at the Portuguese GP. The Italian rider crashed, and the incident provoked heated reactions from Rivola behind the scenes.

Speaking to SkySport after cooling down, Rivola offered a measured perspective on the incident and reflected on Aprilia’s overall campaign. He underlined the challenge posed by the sprint format, which has favored Márquez’s consistency: “It’s clear we have too many sprints. Years ago, we would have been in a different classification, but we must learn to manage the whole weekend. Marco was not to blame yesterday, so honestly, I don’t think there’s anything to say about that. It’s a shame that with such speed, you don’t always get the full reward.”

How the stewards judge a collision

Rivola also detailed the official process MotoGP stewards follow to determine responsibility in collisions. “The panel asks a simple question: ‘Which rider could have avoided the contact?’ That’s how they assess accountability,” he explained.

He acknowledged that the corner where the clash occurred was tight. Rivola pointed out Márquez had more to lose in the title race and therefore could have yielded ground, but clarified, “That doesn’t change the nature of the event.”

Pride in Aprilia and the constructors’ title

Beyond the incident, Rivola praised Aprilia’s factory and team efforts from Noale. “This is a positive result, a recognition of the factory’s great work, the fantastic bike, and the people who work tirelessly from morning until night believing in us. I’m very happy from this viewpoint. It also fills us with optimism for the future.”

He conceded Aprilia lost crucial points this season but insisted, “I’d rather be in this position than have a slow bike and slow riders.”

The championship standings currently see Márquez narrowly ahead of Jorge Martín by just two points, placing the Spanish rider on the cusp of clinching the world title in Portugal’s sprint race. Rivola set his sights on the constructors’ championship, equating its importance to Formula 1’s team title: “It’s essentially the same because it sums both riders’ points. Winning the constructors’ championship is definitely a goal, and I believe we deserve it. We should also consider changing the scoring system because sometimes four Aprilias still can’t beat Márquez. That’s a fact.”

Rivola on Márquez and the lessons of the season

Rivola paid tribute to Márquez’s mastery this season, describing him as the clear frontrunner: “Marc Márquez has marked the difference. Today he did it again. Look at the gap between him and other Ducatis. How he managed weekends, scoring 37 points when he knew he could, and winning on the toughest circuits is admirable. Applause for him, his career, experience, and media handling. Marc is genuinely great.”

Despite the frustrations and missed opportunities, Rivola views this season as a valuable learning curve. “We are even prouder of the work done and our belief until the last race. We kept pushing to improve the bike’s performance and rider development. There are many positives to be proud of. The points lost, whatever the reasons, are lessons for the future. And as I said, two races still remain.”

This assessment from the heart of Aprilia underscores the fierce competition in MotoGP’s final stretch. Rivola’s blend of realism and optimism highlights a team battling adversity while acknowledging the dominance of Márquez and Ducati in the 2024 title chase.