KTM test rider, Dani Pedrosa, has once again expressed his profound admiration for Aprilia’s blistering performance in MotoGP 2025.
Time and again, it appears that either Ducati or Aprilia stands in the way of KTM achieving a coveted victory.
Red Bull KTM rider, Pedro Acosta, unfortunately failed to clinch his maiden win, ultimately being outpaced by Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). Bezzecchi impressively dominated the entire 25-lap race at the challenging Algarve Circuit in Portimao, Portugal, on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
Pedrosa views Aprilia as a significant and tangible threat to its competitors, particularly in their determined pursuit to match Ducati’s formidable level. The former MotoGP rider also highlighted that Bezzecchi was not the sole Aprilia rider demonstrating exceptional speed.
“This season, they have showcased remarkably strong performance; it’s not just Bezzecchi, but Raul (Fernandez) has also made substantial progress,” Pedrosa stated, as quoted by BolaSport.com from Motosan. “Therefore, I would assert that Aprilia’s improvements are unequivocally clear, and as Rivola pointed out, ‘watch out next year’,” he added, emphasizing the palpable advancements.
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Pedrosa further predicted that Aprilia would become even more formidable next season, serving as a serious warning for Ducati Lenovo rider, Marc Marquez. “They (Aprilia) have already issued a clear warning, so Captain Márquez needs to be vigilant as he will have to defend his position,” Pedrosa remarked concerning Aprilia’s burgeoning strength.
Pedrosa then offered insights into Marco Bezzecchi’s winning strategy during the 2025 Portuguese MotoGP race. “He was spotted on the starting grid engaged in conversation with his mechanics, and I believe they had a very clear strategy in mind,” Pedrosa observed. “Indeed, he started incredibly fast; I’m unsure how his rear-middle tire heated up so quickly, because by the first lap, he already held a considerable lead over Pedro. Alex had to push relentlessly to maintain contact with Bezzecchi. He needed numerous laps just to recover the ground lost during that crucial first lap.” Pedrosa concluded, “I believe that was one of the pivotal elements of the Italian rider’s success, in addition to his subsequent pace, but that initial lap with still-cold tires was critically important.”
Pedrosa opined that Aprilia is a well-balanced motorcycle, consistently performing strongly across a variety of circuits. Citing a point from Bezzecchi, Pedrosa elaborated, “This bike performs admirably on many tracks, especially on circuits where the weather isn’t as intensely hot as in Malaysia.” He continued his analysis, “Even though in Mandalika, the weather was scorching, this bike proved exceptionally fast. It has consistently demonstrated remarkable speed on varied circuits like here (Algarve), with its ascents, descents, and sharp turns, and also on high-speed tracks like in Australia.”
Pedrosa subsequently recalled a significant message from Aprilia Racing CEO, Massimo Rivola. “They (Aprilia) have already showcased this immense potential in several recent races, and I believe they now possess an extraordinarily high level of confidence,” Pedrosa stated. “Clearly, all the positive results they are achieving at this moment are immensely significant.” He also added a crucial reminder: “It’s important to remember that Marc was not on track and will only make his return in February. But without a doubt, they (Aprilia) are currently the most potent contenders poised to challenge Marc and his Ducati,” Pedrosa affirmed, highlighting Aprilia’s current dominance.
Summary
KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa has expressed profound admiration for Aprilia’s strong performance in MotoGP 2025, viewing them as a significant threat to competitors. This follows Marco Bezzecchi’s impressive victory for Aprilia at the 2025 Portuguese MotoGP, where he dominated the entire 25-lap race at the Algarve Circuit. Pedrosa emphasized Aprilia’s clear improvements, noting substantial progress from both Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez. He warned Marc Marquez to be vigilant, predicting Aprilia would become even more formidable next season.
Bezzecchi’s winning strategy involved an incredibly fast start, quickly heating his tires to gain a crucial early lead. Pedrosa also praised Aprilia as a well-balanced motorcycle, consistently performing strongly across various circuits, regardless of track characteristics or weather conditions. Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola’s message to “watch out next year” underscores the team’s immense potential and growing confidence from recent positive results. Pedrosa affirmed Aprilia is currently the most potent contender poised to challenge Marc Marquez and his Ducati upon his return.
