Jorge Martin arrives at the Australian Grand Prix with a two-point advantage over Marc Marquez in the MotoGP standings and five rounds still to run. The narrow margin has placed Aprilia’s handling of its four riders under renewed attention, particularly after the Indonesian Grand Prix reduced the value of Martin’s victory.

Martin finished ahead of Marquez in Indonesia, but two other Aprilia riders were also in front of the championship leader. That limited the points difference he could create over Marquez, and questions about possible team orders intensified. On Thursday at Phillip Island, all four Aprilia riders and senior management from both of the manufacturer’s teams attended a meeting. Aprilia team boss Paolo Bonora described the gathering as a normal part of a race weekend rather than a meeting devoted to issuing orders.

Bonora said Aprilia had not given its riders any direct demands. The immediate message was respect between team-mates and caution during on-track battles, with riders asked not to take unnecessary risks against another Aprilia machine. That concern followed the collision between Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez in the Mandalika sprint.

The Aprilia boss also left the door open to a different approach later in the season. He said the team had not defined anything regarding rider orders, but acknowledged that the situation could change if the championship gap became one, two or five points and a clear intervention offered a meaningful advantage. For now, Aprilia wants all of its riders able to fight at the front, while retaining the possibility of clearer instructions if the title situation demands them.

Ducati chooses a different emphasis

Marquez dismissed the need for Ducati team orders, saying that a rider who is fast enough does not need such assistance. Davide Tardozzi adopted the same principle when asked about Aprilia’s position: the Italian manufacturer can choose its own policy, while Ducati will concentrate on improving its speed on track. Tardozzi added that Ducati knows its rivals are very strong and is focused on achieving the best possible results for Marquez.

That leaves the title fight entering Phillip Island without a defined Aprilia order strategy, but with the subject firmly connected to the championship mathematics. The two-point gap and five remaining rounds give the manufacturer room to reassess its approach as the season develops.