Aprilia is closer than ever to a premier-class riders’ title, but the road ahead runs through Marc Marquez and Ducati. Jorge Martin holds the championship lead, with Marquez just two points behind before this weekend’s Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika.

Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing’s CEO, describes the task as the most difficult assignment the manufacturer could face. Aprilia has never won a riders’ championship in the premier class, while Marquez is identified as a nine-time world champion and Ducati has secured the previous four titles. Rivola nevertheless regards Aprilia’s presence in the fight as a major source of satisfaction, seeing it as evidence of the work carried out at Noale.

Marco Bezzecchi sits third in the standings, 49 points from the lead. Aprilia also arrives after Marquez won both races at Motegi, although Mandalika produced a much stronger RS-GP showing last season: Bezzecchi claimed pole position and the Sprint victory, while Raul Fernandez also reached the podium. Bezzecchi was considered the Grand Prix favourite as well, but first-lap contact with Marquez took both riders out and left the Spaniard injured. Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura missed last season’s Indonesian event through injury; all four now return to Indonesia having won a race in 2026.