Aprilia Racing has launched its new 2026 MotoGP bike with several design changes as the Italian manufacturer eyes dominance in the premier class.
The reveal took place on Thursday in Milan at the Sky Sports studios, where riders Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi showcased the evolved RS-GP26 machine adorned with several significant changes to both aesthetics and underlying bike specifications.
This launch comes hot on the heels of Aprilia’s most successful season in 2025, where the team clinched four Grand Prix victories and secured a runner-up position in the constructors’ standings, trailing only the all-conquering Ducati squad.
With the 2026 season fast approaching, the Noale-based outfit’s fresh look and technical refinements signal an aggressive push to challenge for the title, blending heritage-inspired design with cutting-edge engineering innovations tailored for the final year of the current 1000cc regulations.
Aprilia’s livery remains largely unchanged, retaining the iconic black-dominated color scheme, a signature that evokes the brand’s racing pedigree while introducing subtle yet impactful modifications for enhanced visual aggression and sponsor integration.
However, the new 2026 MotoGP bike features several design changes as the most refined prototype yet under technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini’s leadership.
The Aprilia RS-GP26 boasts comprehensive updates across aerodynamics, chassis dynamics, and electronics, with particular emphasis on a radical aero package first glimpsed during end-of-season testing in Valencia.
Engineers have refined front fairings to incorporate integrated winglets inspired by Formula 1 principles, aiming to unlock broader usability across varying track conditions and reduce the bike’s sensitivity to setup changes.
Rearward, a larger wing structure enhances downforce without excessive weight penalties, allowing for more stable corner entry speeds that Marco Bezzecchi exploited to great effect in his late-2025 surge.
These modifications are described as “super aggressive” by Bezzecchi, directly targeting Ducati’s aerodynamic supremacy, with Aprilia confident that the package will deliver measurable gains in lap time consistency.
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“We’re tackling the 2026 MotoGP season well aware of what we are and where we want to be,” Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola said. “We are coming from a solid 2025 which allowed us to reach an extremely high level of competitiveness, and the goal now is to battle in every race.
“We’ll be following two different paths in the garage. On one side, we’re keen to pick up from the same level where we left off at the end of last season with Marco, and on the other, we’ll be building a lot with Jorge.
“We believe very much in the Aprilia RS-GP26 and we maintain that it has great potential, as do our riders.“
Jorge Martin returns to his familiar number 89 on the RS-GP26 after briefly sporting the coveted #1 in limited 2025 appearances marred by persistent injuries.
Bezzecchi remains as Aprilia’s beacon of consistency, having spearheaded the team’s 2025 revival with three Grand Prix triumphs, including back-to-back masterclasses in Portugal and Valencia that propelled him to third in the riders’ standings.
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