Aprilia Racing

Aprilia returned to the premier class full-time in 2015 with a project built around a narrow, agile chassis — a deliberate contrast to the V4 muscle of the Italian rivals down the road. Progress was slow at first and then sudden once the aero department caught up.

The RS-GP26 arrived with the biggest visible change of any bike over the winter: a redesigned fairing that keeps the front tyre loaded through long corners, exactly where Aprilia used to lose time. Riders describe it as a bike that no longer fights them mid-corner.

Martin brings a style built on aggressive braking and late corner entry, while Bezzecchi gives the team a smoother reference for tyre life. When both riders agree on a front tyre, Aprilia usually commits to it — and that has produced their best weekends.