Sports · Motorsport · 12 hrs ago
Rivola rejects Marquez’s suggestion of team orders at Aprilia
Marc Marquez said Ai Ogura had reason to stay ahead of him during the MotoGP Sprint in Sepang, Malaysia, because that could affect Marco Bezzecchi’s points.
Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola rejected the suggestion that his team was using orders to shape the racing.
He said team tactics were more common “in their family,” referring to Marquez and his brother Alex, who both race for Ducati.
Ogura and Bezzecchi later made contact in the Sepang race.
Ducati Corse director Gigi Dall’Igna said teams may make requests, but must respect each rider and their safety.
The debate comes as the MotoGP season reaches its decisive races, with no further action specified.
Aprilia Racing chief executive Massimo Rivola rejected Marc Marquez’s suggestion that team orders shaped the racing between Aprilia riders.
Rivola said he believed team orders were more common “in their family,” referring to Marquez and his brother Alex.
Marquez had said Takaaki Ogura could not finish between him and Marco Bezzecchi because that would cost Bezzecchi points.
The comments followed the Sepang Sprint and a later race in which Ogura and Bezzecchi made contact.
Ducati Corse director general Gigi Dall’Igna said teams may make requests but must respect the riders.
- Who
- Aprilia chief executive Massimo Rivola responded to Marc Marquez’s comments about Takaaki Ogura and Marco Bezzecchi.
- What
- Rivola rejected the suggestion of team orders at Aprilia and said he believed they were more common in Marquez’s family.
- When
- November 1, 2026, after the Sepang race; Marquez’s comments followed the Sprint.
- Where
- Sepang, Malaysia; the comments were made to DAZN Spain.
- Why
- Marquez said Ogura could not finish between him and Bezzecchi because that would cost Bezzecchi points.
Marc Marquez
Massimo Rivola
Ogura’s position
Marc Marquez
Marquez said Ogura could not finish between him and Bezzecchi because that would cost Bezzecchi points.
Massimo Rivola
Rivola said Marquez’s comments did not interest him and suggested team orders were more common in Marquez’s family.
After the Sepang Sprint, Marquez said Ogura could not finish between him and Bezzecchi because that would cost Bezzecchi points.
After the Sepang race, Rivola responded to Marquez’s comments to DAZN Spain.
- Race venue
- Sepang, Malaysia
- Aprilia chief executive
- Massimo Rivola
- Riders discussed
- Marc Marquez, Takaaki Ogura and Marco Bezzecchi
- Response date
- November 1, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I don't really care much about what Marc says, honestly. I also think they do more team games at home... in the family.
Ogura couldn't be between me and Bezzecchi. So, the paddock is small and these things are known.
This is a sport and first of all we must respect all the riders who race and risk their lives on a motorcycle.