Aprilia Racing is not planning to tell one of its riders to yield to the other while both remain mathematically in the 2026 MotoGP title race. Team CEO Massimo Rivola told Sky Italia that Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi should continue to race freely until their championship chances are no longer viable.

The policy comes with the standings still tightly packed. Martin reclaimed the lead at the Red Bull Ring and opened a 12-point advantage over Marc Marquez. Bezzecchi collected two podiums in Austria, yet sits third, 42 points behind his team-mate. Seven race weekends and up to 259 points remain, giving Aprilia a reason to preserve the contest between its factory riders; the manufacturer also leads the constructors’ standings.

A championship Aprilia refuses to take for granted

The balance has already changed sharply this season. Bezzecchi had earlier led Marquez by 102 points, before Martin returned to the top of the table. Rivola said Aprilia must focus on what lies ahead rather than become carried away by a strong result. He also argued that the Aprilia motorcycle is competitive, while describing both its riders and their rivals as very strong.

KTM’s Pedro Acosta is now another major factor. The Red Bull Ring winner goes into the next Japanese MotoGP 72 points behind Martin and 30 behind Bezzecchi. Rivola said the victory had raised Acosta’s confidence, making him an even more significant presence in a title fight that still includes Marquez and Aprilia’s two factory riders. For now, the team’s position is clear: the internal battle stays open while the mathematics continue to support both riders.