Marc Marquez faces team orders threat as Aprilia reveal MotoGP title plan
Aprilia may change things up against Marquez (Credit: Apex Agency)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Aprilia’s CEO has been asked the question every motorsport team manager dreads: will he have to sacrifice one rider for another?
Massimo Rivola has seen his Italian squad catapult to the top of the standings, 122 points clear of Ducati in the teams’ championship.
They’ve done so thanks to a two-pronged attack, with Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi taking the title fight to nine-time champion Marc Marquez.
Marquez currently sits between the pair in second in the riders’ championship, two points behind Martin and 47 ahead of Bezzecchi.
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Martin is clearly the best placed to challenge Marquez, not only due to the standings, but also due to his experience as a MotoGP champion.
However, complicating matters for Rivola is the fact that Martin leaves the team for Yamaha next season, while Bezzecchi stays on a multi-year deal.
Martin is closest to Marquez and has champion pedigree (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
Aprilia reveal when team orders could be introduced
Asked if he would favour one rider over another at an official MotoGP event, he laid out the conditions to do so.
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"Marco and Jorge don't have Marquez's experience, but they're both very fast, they're in good shape, and the math allows each of them to fight for the title,” the Italian executive said.
“If one of them were to find themselves out of the fight, then they'll have to help the other.
“And in any case, having a broader comparison is positive for the sport and for the championship."
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Martin and Bezzecchi remain in the hunt against Marquez
Bezzecchi has won four races this season to Martin’s one, but he also went on a four-race pointless streak due to injury and suspension.
Marquez started the campaign with injury and a lack of pace, but has come back in remarkable fashion with six Grand Prix wins.
So it's understandable that Rivola is more worried about the Spaniard than any dramas between his own riders.
Rivola admits Marquez is Aprilia's biggest challenge
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Asked about the Ducati legend, he responded: “It's the most difficult aspect to deal with.
“This year we've managed to beat him several times, but we don't know if we'll be able to do it again.
“In any case, it's a great satisfaction to compete with the best possible duo, Ducati-Marquez, because it confirms the great work we've done in Noale [the team’s factory].
"Winning the World Championship would be a well-deserved reward for the work done by everyone, in every role within the company, who would deserve this title at every level."
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