Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi have fought for years, but in 2025 the former rivals will become teammates.
In the 2025 MotoGP World Championship, former rivals Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi will become partners at Aprilia Racing.
Martin and Bezzecchi have come through the junior classes in the Grand Prix racing paddock together. The Spaniard and the Italian have shared the track in Moto3 and Moto2 and became rivals in both classes.
Moto3 title rivalry: (2017-2018)
The duo had their first season riding against each other in the 2017 Moto3 World Championship. Bezzecchi made his debut in Moto3 in 2017 for Mahindra, whereas Martin was entering his third season in the class. Neither rider battled with each other throughout the year as Martin finished in fourth, with Bezzecchi in 23rd.
However, in 2018 the duo began their rivalry that would continue into the future. Across the year the riders shared the podium five times. Bezzecchi won three races, but Martin won seven and eventually the Moto3 Championship.
The Spaniard won the title on a Del Conca Gresini Honda, with the Italian finishing third in the standings on a Redox PrüstelGP KTM.
Bezzecchi's time to shine in Moto2: (2019-2020)
After fighting for the Moto3 title in 2018 the duo moved into Moto2 in 2019. However, both rider's rookie seasons were drastically different.
Martin joined the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad with Bezzecchi signing for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team. The reigning Moto3 Champion ended his rookie season in 11th place in the standings, but Bezzecchi ended the year in 23rd.
However, the 2020 COVID-19-impacted Moto2 season saw Bezzecchi get the better of Martin for the first time in their rivalry. Bezzecchi moved into the Sky Racing Team VR46 squad for 2020 with Martin remaining in the Red Bull KTM Ajo outfit.
Bezzecchi ended the year in fourth place with two wins and five further podiums, the Italian was also 21 points away from winning the 2020 Moto2 World Championship. Whereas, Martin ended the 2020 season in fifth in the Championship with two wins and four further podiums.
A year apart put the rivalry on hold: (2021)
Despite beating Martin in the 2020 Moto2 World Championship Bezzecchi would remain in Moto2 for 2021. However, Martin signed a contract with the Pramac Racing Team to move into MotoGP on a Ducati factory bike.
Martin's rookie year in MotoGP with Pramac Racing and Ducati saw him finish in ninth place. The former Moto3 Champion also won a race and stood on three further podiums in his debut season.
Bezzecchi's third year in Moto2 and second year with Sky Racing Team VR46 saw him end the year in third in the World Championship. The Italian won a race and stood on six further podiums in his final year in his middleweight class.
Reunited in the premier class: (2022-2024)
The duo were reunited within the Ducati family for the 2022 MotoGP season. Martin had remained with the Pramac Racing Team and Bezzecchi joined the Mooney VR46 Racing Team.
Bezzecchi's first season in MotoGP saw him finish 14th in the Championship with 111 points and one podium. Martin was five places higher as he ended the year in 9th with 152 points and four podiums.
The 2023 MotoGP World Championship saw Martin and Bezzecchi fight on track more than in 2022. Both riders were still with Ducati in the Prima Pramac Racing Team and the Mooney VR46 Racing Team.
The Spaniard ended the 2023 season in second with four race wins and four further podiums. The Italian had a breakthrough year in 2023 as he won three races and stood on four podiums, Bezzecchi ended the year in third.
2024 was a crucial year for the Martin and Bezzecchi rivalry as Martin stamped his authority over Bezzecchi.
The #89 became #1 as he won the MotoGP World Championship with 508 points to his name. The Spaniard ended his relationship with Ducati at the end of the 2024 season and signed with Aprilia for 2025.
Bezzecchi also ended his relationship with Ducati at the end of 2024 and will become Martin's teammate for the first time in 2025 as he also signed for Aprilia.
From Rivals to Allies: (2025)
Martin and Bezzecchi shared a garage for the first time at the Barcelona Test. Both riders got to test the 2025 Aprilia RS-GP for the first time after the 2024 MotoGP season concluded.
Neither rider has been able to comment on their Aprilia test, but Massimo Rivola (Aprilia Racing CEO) believes 'the direction is clear' after one day with their new riders.
After years of fighting the two former junior-class rivals will want to assert their dominance in Aprilia. How their relationship will evolve in Aprilia is yet to be seen, but the signs are positive after one day together...
