Aprilia RS‑GP rider Marco Bezzecchi has spent the Red Bull Ring test weekend devoting the entire machine to a newly‑designed tail unit, refining aerodynamics while collaborating with test rider Lorenzo Savadori to hit every performance envelope.
Targeted Aerodynamic Gains on the Circuit
The Italian team’s tweaked rear‑wing assembly now incorporates two extra flaps positioned ahead of the double‑element wing, displacing the line of airflow along the tail unit. Similar to the trick seen on Marc Marquez’s Ducati Desmosedici, the new geometry is intended to strip turbulence from the rear of the bike, yielding an efficiency bump on straight sections and a subtle rise in downforce when the motorcycle leans into corners.
Development, Philosophy and Points Battle
Despite the 850 cc rule change drawing attention, Aprilia still pours resources into the current RS‑GP26, determined to stay within striking distance of Marquez in the championship. Technical director Fabiano Sterracchini leads parallel work on next year’s 850‑cat machine while keeping the present MotoGP set‑up in active development. Bezzecchi, seen as the squad’s premier development tester and partner to Savadori, has led the aerodynamics team’s push since last season, whereas Jorge Martin follows a ‘minimize changes once confidence is achieved’ approach, preferring to keep the bike’s setup stable until the next prime opportunity.
Championship Landscape and Team Cohesion
Martin remains 12 points ahead of reigning champion Marquez and sits atop the rider standings, while Bezzecchi trails in third RS‑GP position, 42 points from the leader. The Noale outfit remains the only manufacturer able to re‑tailor the bike’s aerodynamics to each track’s idiosyncrasies, a critical advantage in the fight to stop Marquez’s momentum. Cohesion under Massimo Rivola continues even amidst the natural rivalry of two factory riders, as the team bets on disciplined yet bold iteration to keep the racing edge.
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