At the start of the 2025 season, Aprilia had very high hopes. They had signed MotoGP champion Jorge Martin, and everyone was hoping the team would become regular winners. But just a few races in, things have not gone in their favor. The team is now sitting in 10th place in the team standings, which is a big disappointment for them.

One of their problems is Martin’s absence. He hasn't raced much—he only competed in Qatar before getting injured again. His replacement, test rider Lorenzo Savadori, has been using the races more for testing than actual competition, which has left Marco Bezzecchi to carry the team’s hopes alone. Unfortunately, Bezzecchi hasn’t been able to deliver strong results either. He hasn’t made it onto the podium once in 2025, and he rarely looks close to doing so.

This is a big step backward for Aprilia. Just a few years ago, the team was climbing from the back of the grid to become a real title challenger. Now, in what should have been their breakthrough year, they are nowhere near it—and this isn’t just because Martin is missing.

Even if Martin were racing, he would be struggling with the 2025 bike, as it is not working as expected. In past seasons, Aprilia was known for smooth cornering and strong braking. But the 2025 version of the bike has lost those strengths. Riders are now having trouble not only when turning and braking, but also when accelerating out of corners.

Bezzecchi has made some mistakes—like when he ran off the track early in the Spanish Grand Prix and struggled during qualifying—but many of his issues come from the bike itself. He often mentions a serious shaking problem during braking, which caused his off-track moment at Jerez. Clearly, this isn’t just about rider errors alone.

Aprilia believes that changes to the bike’s aerodynamics might help, but according to MotoGP rules, only one major aero update is allowed per season. That means they have to get it right the first time. They already tested some new ideas at Jerez and also tried a carbon-fiber swingarm to improve stability without relying entirely on aero changes.

Earlier this year, there were signs of promise. Bezzecchi looked fast in pre-season testing, and rookie Ai Ogura impressed with his debut race in Thailand. But those hopes haven’t turned into consistent performance.

Bezzecchi’s testing pace still shows up in races, especially in long runs. At Jerez, he came from 23rd on the grid to finish 14th. His pace was close to race-winner Alex Marquez when he had clear track. But qualifying at the back means he spends races trying to pass slower riders, which is tough when the bike is unstable under braking.

Still, Ogura has been a bright spot. He is now Aprilia’s top rider in the championship, just one point ahead of Bezzecchi. While his teammate Raul Fernandez is struggling badly and admits he doesn’t feel comfortable on the bike, Ogura continues to make progress. His aggressive late-braking style helps him work around the bike’s problems better than most. And if Martin were healthy, many believe he could do the same.

Things could improve later this season, especially if Aprilia gets their aerodynamic upgrade right and Martin returns in good form. But right now, the team that entered 2025 with so much excitement and high expectations is not even close to competing with the leaders.