Aprilia has signed VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi on a multi-year contract to associate Jorge Martin at its manufacturing facility MotoGP staff from 2025.
As reported by Motorsport.com, Bezzecchi will transfer to the Noale-based marque after three seasons with Ducati’s satellite tv for pc VR46 squad, a stint that has to date yielded three grand prix victories and a greatest end of third within the standings in 2023.
The deal marks the fruits of his objective of changing into a manufacturing facility rider, though he had initially hoped to rise by the ranks inside Ducati itself as an alternative of transferring to a special marque.
Bezzecchi was significantly eager on a commencement inside Ducati after turning down the possibility of racing the latest-spec Desmosedici at Pramac in 2024 in favour of continuity and acquainted environment at VR46 – despite the fact that that meant competing on final yr’s GP23 equipment.
Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Nonetheless, Ducati’s choice to signal six-time champion Marc Marquez to staff up with incumbent Francesco Bagnaia for 2025 put paid to any possibilities of a promotion inside its roster subsequent yr.
Having endured a begin to the 2024 season, scoring only one podium within the opening seven rounds and trailing team-mate Fabio di Giannantonio within the championship, he has now inked a deal to affix the opposite Italian producer in MotoGP.
His transfer to Aprilia can also be seen as a advertising and marketing enhance for the Noale-based marque, which lastly has an Italian rider in its secure after fielding Spaniards Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales in the previous couple of seasons.
“Welcome aboard to probably the greatest Italian skills, who has demonstrated his price from his debut within the decrease classes and particularly final yr in MotoGP, with excellent performances and even breakaway victories,” stated Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola.
“We will’t wait to embrace Bez in Noale; the Italian bike and Italian rider duo are extraordinarily thrilling, however much more so is the rider pair which can be fashioned with Jorge. We’re actually proud of our line-up for 2025, Martín and Bezzecchi had been our first decisions for his or her age, expertise, grit, and dedication. With them we are able to write a brand new and vital chapter within the historical past of Aprilia Racing.”
Bezzecchi’s recruitment means Aprilia will begin the 2025 season with an all-new line-up. Espargaro, who has performed a key function in Aprilia’s ascent from a distant backmarker to an everyday race winner, introduced his choice to retire from MotoGP on the finish of 2024 and is now set to tackle a check rider function at Aprilia.
Vinales, in the meantime, will transfer to the factory-supported Tech3 KTM squad in 2025 alongside Enea Bastianini.
