Until the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Until the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
For a while, it was assumed that Aprilia’s plan to replace Aleix Espargaro next season would be simple: attract any factory rider who missed out on the Ducati MotoGP musical chairs game.
However, with time running out and the possibility of needing to fill two seats instead of one, it seems Aprilia will shift its focus to a different target: Marco Bezzecchi.
For a while, even if team boss Massimo Rivola may not have explicitly stated, Aprilia’s strategy in the rider market has been quite clear. With Marc Marquez, Enea Bastianini, and Jorge Martin vying for factory status alongside Pecco Bagnaia at Aprilia’s Italian rival, it has always been evident that one name would be available.
Marquez was unlikely to be the choice from the start, as he had recently switched factories and seemed content with a satellite team position with a factory bike next year. Current championship leader Martin was also an unlikely bet, despite Espargaro’s desire to pass his machine to his “brother”.
Realistically, this leaves current Ducati factory rider Bastianini as the most suitable option for Aprilia. He is fast, Italian, and his impressive race pace aligns well with the qualities of the Aprilia RS-GP. His manager, former Aprilia team boss Carlo Pernat, makes a point to highlight this natural combination whenever possible.
However, with Ducati’s contract negotiations facing delays and no announcement expected this weekend at Mugello, as initially planned, it appears that Bezzecchi is also in the mix. Bezzecchi made it clear 12 months ago that he also aspired to have a factory seat in the future. He turned down the opportunity to move up to Pramac and chose to stay with the team he knew best when the chance for a direct promotion to the factory team was denied by Bastianini.
Since then, Bezzecchi has struggled on a year-old bike that has not been able to keep up with the pace of the current machine at the start of the season, as expected.
However, Bezzecchi’s talent remains, and Aprilia may see an opportunity for a beneficial signing.
There is a possibility that Ducati may try to convince Bezzecchi to stay with VR46 in the long term, providing him with a factory GP25 next season. However, this would require Pramac, the current top-level satellite team, to break their contract and switch to Yamaha. This process seems to have stalled while Ducati decides who will join Bagnaia in 2025.
Furthermore, Aprilia’s renewed interest in Bezzecchi may have another reason unrelated to Bastianini. Recent rumors from last weekend’s Catalunya Grand Prix suggest the need to replace not only Espargaro, but also his current teammate, Maverick Vinales, for 2025.
Vinales’ form has been inconsistent since his dominant performance at the Circuit of the Americas last month, indicating that it was just a temporary high point in his up-and-down career, rather than a lasting change in form.
As a result, Vinales is considering not only his future performance, but also his finances. There are rumors of negotiations with Honda about the possibility of replacing Joan Mir, who has expressed his desire to leave.
If this scenario unfolds, Aprilia will be in the market not only for one, but for two talented riders to join the factory team next year. This could potentially pave the way for a fully Italian dream team with Bezzecchi and Bastianini, if everything aligns perfectly.
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A new era for football is about to begin. With the arrival of new technologies and the evolution of the sport, fans can expect a revolution in the coming years. And one of the most impactful changes will be the introduction of video assistant referees in all competitions.
The video assistant referee, also known as VAR (Video Assistant Referee), aims to correct refereeing errors during matches. With the use of cameras and advanced technology, VAR will be able to analyze controversial plays and assist referees in making decisions.
This new tool promises to end discussions about wrongly disallowed goals, penalties not awarded, and incorrect cards. With VAR, justice will be served on the field and players can trust that decisions will be made impartially.
However, not everyone is happy with the arrival of VAR. Some critics argue that the technology could take away the emotion of the game and prolong the duration of matches. Additionally, there are concerns about the interpretation of plays and the possibility of errors even with the use of VAR.
Despite the controversies, the implementation of VAR is an important step for modern football. With technology becoming increasingly present in our lives, it is natural that it is also applied to the world’s most popular sport. Now we just have to wait and see how VAR will influence the game and whether it will truly bring more justice and impartiality to matches.
