Jorge Martin enters this year’s MotoGP title battle having already experienced both possible outcomes of a championship challenge. He lost the 2023 title to Pecco Bagnaia, then returned the following season to win the 2024 crown with Pramac Ducati. In Massimo Rivola’s view, that path gives Martin two important advantages over Marco Bezzecchi.

The Aprilia Racing CEO’s argument is that Martin understands both the frustration of defeat and the demands of completing a successful title campaign. Rivola says those lessons are learned mainly through experience rather than theory. The distinction is relevant to this year’s standings: Martin leads Marc Marquez by 12 points, while Bezzecchi is 42 points away from the top.

Marquez has the deeper advantage

Rivola applies the same principle to Marc Marquez on a much larger scale. The Spaniard is a seven-time premier-class champion and has repeatedly managed the pressure that comes with a championship fight. That history gives him a substantial experience advantage against both Aprilia riders, regardless of the current points gap.

Aprilia is still chasing its first premier-class riders’ title. Aleix Espargaro remained in contention well into the 2022 season, but did not complete the challenge. Ducati’s route back to the top shows how repeated attempts can become part of a successful process: it finished runner-up in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 before Pecco Bagnaia delivered the 2022 championship. Ducati has won the riders’ title every year since then.