Aprilia May Use Team Orders in MotoGP’s Final Two Races
Aprilia says it will let its riders race freely for now, despite Jorge Martin holding a narrow lead over Marc Marquez in the MotoGP title fight. CEO Massimo Rivola said team orders could be considered for the final two rounds if only one Aprilia rider remains mathematically capable of winning the championship. Five races remain, with the next round scheduled in Australia in two weeks.
Aprilia’s decision to keep its riders free to compete could shape the MotoGP title fight, where Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by just two points. The team says it may consider team orders in the final two races if only one of its riders remains mathematically able to win the championship.
Five rounds remain in the 2026 season. The next race is in Australia in two weeks, after Aprilia’s strong weekend at Mandalika put Martin atop the standings with 355 points. Marquez has 353, while Marco Bezzecchi sits third with 309.
Aprilia leaves title contenders free to race
For now, Aprilia has set no internal priority. CEO Massimo Rivola said the team would keep the competition open while more than one rider retains a mathematical chance at the title.
“As long as it is mathematically possible, the competition remains open,” Rivola said, according to The Race.
The policy gives Aprilia several riders who can fight for race wins. It also carries a risk: teammates may take points from one another as they pursue their own results.
That trade-off matters in a championship separated by only two points at the front. Martin leads, but Marquez remains close, and Bezzecchi’s 309 points keep him in third after winning the grand prix at Mandalika. With five races still to come, results can change the standings.
There is a cost to that freedom.
“On one hand, it’s good because we have more riders who can fight for victories. But we can also take points from each other,” Rivola said.
Final two races could bring a change
Rivola said Aprilia could revisit its approach when the championship reaches its final two rounds. The trigger would be a standings situation in which only one Aprilia rider still has a mathematical route to the world title.
Until then, the team will not ask one rider to support another. The next race in Australia comes in two weeks, with five rounds left overall; Aprilia’s current standings are Martin on 355 points, Marquez two behind and Bezzecchi on 309.
