Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi approaches this weekend’s MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez with measured optimism, describing the event as a “new beginning” for the 2026 season. The Italian rider currently leads the championship by four points ahead of his Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin, following a dominant campaign that has seen Bezzecchi secure five consecutive Sunday wins and lead 121 laps.
Despite Aprilia’s formidable form—claiming victory in all three grands prix so far—Bezzecchi is wary of the challenges that await in Jerez. “I feel good. I feel happy to be back in Europe, especially here in Jerez, which is a wonderful place, a wonderful track,” he said. “It’s like a new beginning. We had a decent break. Everyone had the time to work on every aspect, so the riders and also the manufacturers. So, it will be a tough weekend. We will try our best to start in the best way possible.”
Acknowledging the highly competitive field, Bezzecchi singled out Ducati and several rivals as potential threats on the tight Jerez circuit, where marginal gaps and tyre management often define the outcome. “Marc and Alex, but all the others are super strong—also DiGiannantonio, Pecco, Pedro is super competitive,” he noted. “Here is a track where the gaps between the riders are always super small and the races are always tough because you have to manage the tyres a lot. So, it will be a tough weekend. Hopefully, we can have a good race together with my bike, but we will see.”
While the RS-GP has been the class of the field in the season’s early stages, Bezzecchi avoided direct comparisons with rival machinery. “I have no idea. It’s difficult for me to compare with the other bikes. I ride only the Aprilia, so I don’t know. For sure, for me, for my team, for my part of the garage, it is very good and I feel wonderful with them. But that’s a question I have no idea how to answer.”
As the championship returns to Europe, Bezzecchi remains focused on maintaining his momentum while respecting the unpredictable nature of the Jerez circuit and the renewed competition among the MotoGP elite.
