Marc Marquez’s impending MotoGP title triumph is widely seen as a consequence of a critical strategic misstep by Aprilia, insiders reveal. After a commanding one-two finish at the Italian Grand Prix in May, Aprilia appeared poised to dominate the championship with Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin comfortably ahead of Marquez. Bezzecchi led the standings by an astonishing 102 points, with Martin a solid 85 points clear of the eight-time world champion.

Aprilia had all but written off Marquez’s title chances following his second shoulder surgery and absence from two rounds, expecting him to be no threat. Yet, defying all odds and racing with what has been described as ‘one and a half arms,’ Marquez now stands on the cusp of securing the championship with races to spare. This extraordinary comeback has been hailed as potentially Marquez’s greatest feat in MotoGP, but it also exposes Aprilia’s strategic blunder.

According to El Periodico journalist Emilio Perez de Rozas, there is a consensus within the MotoGP paddock that Aprilia’s decision to split resources equally between Martin and Bezzecchi has handed Marquez a golden opportunity. “Everyone thinks Aprilia would be close to the title right now if they had focused solely on Martin,” Perez de Rozas reports. However, the prospect of sidelining Bezzecchi was unthinkable for Aprilia, especially since he was a championship contender for much of the season and recently extended his contract with the team. Martin, meanwhile, has already attempted to break his contract this year and is set to join Yamaha next season, factors that have reportedly weighed heavily on Aprilia’s approach.

Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola faced a difficult balancing act. Rewarding Martin at Bezzecchi’s expense was hard to justify, particularly as Bezzecchi’s recent dip in form came late in the campaign. Rivola may also contend that favouring Martin would not have changed the outcome significantly. Despite never ruling out team orders, Aprilia has refrained from deploying them, even amidst speculation involving their satellite team, Trackhouse. This restraint shocked some, especially Marquez’s camp, who anticipated Raul Fernandez might concede position to Martin in Indonesia on team instructions—a move that ultimately never happened.

Martin’s crash at Phillip Island, which cost him a crucial 12 points and sidelined him for the Malaysian Grand Prix, is now viewed as the pivotal moment in the title race. Had Martin held a larger points advantage, he might have ridden more conservatively against Marquez, mitigating such risks. Aprilia, wanting to respect the interests of both riders, chose not to reinforce Martin’s position aggressively.

While Martin has edged Bezzecchi 12-7 in qualifying, his superior race consistency and prior championship experience arguably made him Aprilia’s strongest contender. The Noale factory remains a formidable force, well placed to clinch their first teams’ title. The RS-GP26 machine has proven capable of delivering stellar results across the board, but Aprilia’s divided loyalties have undeniably shaped the championship’s dramatic twist—and handed Marc Marquez the prize.