Written by Silvia Cojocaru, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Motor racing isn’t just about being the fastest rider on the grid. To become a title contender, riders need a strong team behind them, and a motorcycle they can trust to take them to the finish line.
Nobody’s career lasts forever, therefore, it’s important to choose a team wisely and make changes if something is not working. Meanwhile, one rider making a change for 2025 is Marco Bezzecchi, opting to leave the VR46 Racing Team in order to join Aprilia Racing on a multi-year contract.
Career background
Bezzecchi has been linked with Valentino Rossi and Ducati for almost his entire career. He became part of Rossi's Rider Academy at the age of 17, and in 2020, decided to join the Sky Racing Team VR46 for his second Moto 2 season. Back then, Aprilia already had its eyes on the young rider, having offered him a place on their team. Bezzecchi turned them down, but it’s clear he hasn’t forgotten their proposal.
When he first entered the MotoGP world in 2022, Bezzecchi quickly became a rider to watch. He took the title of Rookie of the Year, and proved that he could fight for race wins and even for the championship a year later.
The Italian finished 3rd in the standings in 2023, claiming his first race wins in the premier class. These euphoric moments certainly proved Bezzecchi was in the right place, and the team seemed ready to support him at every step of the way.
However, despite his determination to stay with the VR46 Racing Team ahead of the 2024 season, he struggled to extract pace from the older GP23 motorcycle model. This led to a disappointing follow-up season, as Bezzecchi finished 12th overall, two places behind teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio .
Moving forward on a Ducati bike was the expected path for Bezzecchi, as one bad season didn’t seem like enough for him to consider a different team. While the exact reasons behind his decision were not made public, other factors which might have influenced it. For instance, a factor to keep in mind was a big-name signing made headlines ahead of the 2025 season.
Marc Márquez joining Ducati wasn’t only surprising for MotoGP fans, but it might’ve also led to repercussions for people working in that space. The Spaniard being indirectly linked to Rossi's future team was certainly not ideal for VR46 Racing Team’s brand, which might have led to internal conflicts later down the line.
This, combined with the frustrating performance from the GP23 model might've determined Bezzecchi to look for other opportunities.
From the remaining team options, Aprilia Racing seemed the best for the young rider’s future, in the form of another Italian team, distant from the Ducati group, who had already shown interest in signing him even before he made his MotoGP debut.
Bezzecchi will also be paired with current world champion Jorge Martín, which would help motivate the Italian, while the reigning champion’s experience of battling for a title can come in handy to help the young Italian racer grow in the series.
Whether this move will prove beneficial remains to be seen, but Bezzecchi appeared confident in the Aprilia machinery after the Barcelona tests. Both riders will face tough competition at the front of the field, a challenge they have seemingly relished throughout their careers.
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