Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola has admitted he made a serious mistake in managing the signing of Jorge Martín for the 2025 MotoGP season. The move came after Martín was passed over for the Ducati seat by rider Marc Marquez. Rivola acknowledges that he did not inform the current driver, Maverick Viñales, about the new signing before it became public, causing Viñales’ dissatisfaction.
“You can’t always get what you want. My mistake was not telling him what was about to happen. The priority was to close the contract. For me, Maverick was the one who helped the team take a decisive step forward. I think that he now has a level that is a point of reference for the other Aprilia riders. Now, however, we need to understand what the driver wants from the team. Our priority is to understand what Maverick has in mind,” said Rivola.
Viñales, considered a veteran and a key contributor to the team’s progress, apparently feels disrespected by the way the situation was handled. Rivola underlined the importance of Viñales for the team and expressed his desire to understand his point of view for the future. The priority now for Aprilia is to address Viñales’ concerns and ensure a harmonious relationship within the team ahead of the coming seasons.
