A highly anticipated guest at Moto.it's MotoFestival, Marco Bezzecchi spoke candidly about his first season with Aprilia. ‘The first time I rode the bike, I wasn't excited or disappointed, I was focused on understanding the differences,’ explained the Rimini-born rider, referring to the test in Barcelona after the last race of 2024.

Jorge Martin's injury changed plans. ‘It was a problem because we'll never know how it would have gone, but it was also an opportunity to receive more attention from the engineers,’ admits Bezz. The most difficult moment? Thailand, with Ogura fifth and him sixth, 14 seconds behind: ‘I was pissed off; on social media, I was already back to being poor from last year.’

Then came the turning point at Silverstone, his first victory with Aprilia: ‘I didn't expect it, it was exciting.’ He is optimistic about the present: ‘We have improved a lot, but we need stability and more hours on the bike to get to know it better.’

Finally, the episode that won over the fans: the lap on the track with his mother at Misano. ‘She was the one who asked me! Years ago, I took her for a ride on the streets of Riccione, and she didn't speak to me for days because I was going too fast. This time, she got off the bike delighted.’