# Massimo Rivola: Aprilia Did Not Lose, Marc Marquez Won the Title Aprilia CEO credits Marquez's individual brilliance for his dominant 2026 MotoGP championship campaign. - **Source:** [Motorsport.com – MotoGP](https://www.motorsport.com/motogp) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2c4bc831-cc48-49ae-b578-f2e10828d5ef ## Marquez's Dominant Campaign Marc Marquez is on the verge of securing his 10th world title after a stellar 2026 MotoGP season. Despite early injury setbacks, he demonstrated unmatched consistency. His performance in Qatar solidified his lead, leaving him needing only a top-nine finish in the upcoming Portimao race to officially claim the championship trophy. ## Rivola's Strategic Assessment Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola explicitly rejected claims that his team lost the championship. Instead, he praised Marquez as the deciding factor, citing his superior race management and ability to extract maximum points. Rivola noted that Marquez’s individual talent often outperformed the combined efforts of multiple riders on the grid. ## Shift in Competitive Dynamics The season saw a significant shift after the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. While Aprilia initially held a 102-point lead with Marco Bezzecchi, Marquez regained full fitness and form. Since that turning point, the Spaniard secured seven full-length race victories and eight sprint wins, effectively closing the gap on his rivals. ## Aprilia's Technical Achievements Despite the riders' title slipping away, Rivola remains proud of Aprilia's technical progress. He described the RS-GP as a magnificent machine that allowed the team to compete at the highest level. The factory in Noale continues to push for performance improvements, viewing this season as a testament to their engineering capabilities. ## Constructors' Title Ambitions Aprilia is still actively fighting for the constructors' world championship, trailing Ducati by only eight points following the Qatar Grand Prix. Rivola emphasized that securing this title remains a primary goal for the team. He believes the current points tallying system should be reviewed to better reflect overall manufacturer performance. ## Team Championship Success Aprilia has already secured a dominant position in the teams' championship, currently holding a 124-point lead over the factory Ducati squad. Rivola views this as a major success for the organization, validating the hard work of his staff. This achievement provides a strong foundation for their future development and strategic planning. ## Lessons for the Future Rivola acknowledged that points were squandered throughout the season due to various errors. However, he prefers to focus on the positives, treating these missed opportunities as valuable lessons for future campaigns. The team remains committed to pushing until the final race, maintaining a high level of belief in their riders. ## Optimism for 2027 Season Looking ahead, the outlook for 2026 and beyond leaves Aprilia leadership feeling optimistic. Rivola highlighted that having a fast bike and competitive riders is preferable to the alternative. The team plans to carry their current momentum into the next season, aiming to bridge the final performance gaps against their rivals. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/aprilia-didnt-lose-title-marc-marquez-won-massimo-rivola/10873461/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=RSS-MOTOGP&utm_term=News&utm_content=www — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._