A long week of testing in Jerez has come to a close, and the message coming out of the paddock is clear: the balance hasn’t drastically changed, but some are pushing harder than the rest. Today, that team is Aprilia.
The Noale-based manufacturer stole the show, especially in terms of aerodynamics. Until 2024—as Bagnaia also noted—Ducati was the absolute benchmark, Instead, the feeling today is that the advantage has shifted. Borgo Panigale brought updates, but they were mostly evolutions of concepts already seen between Sepang and Valencia: improvements rather than revolutions.
Aprilia, on the other hand, continues to take risks. The new solutions—the now-famous “ears” on the fairing—are just the tip of the iceberg of a much broader effort. But it’s not just a matter of wings. The entire bike is designed as an integrated aerodynamic system. Even the sensor devices seen on the track, resembling the arms of a drone, show just how central the work on airflow has become.
And the results are evident. Three Aprilias in the lead when it comes to race times: Ogura and Fernandez’s Trackhouse bikes—the only ones under 1’36”—and Bezzecchi right behind them, engaged in a broader development program. These are strong signs on a track that was historically unfavorable to them, following an already positive weekend.
Behind them, the picture remains more nuanced. Ducati holds its ground, with Marc Marquez as the team’s top rider (4th fastest), while KTM places Acosta in the top five despite a complicated weekend. Yamaha continues to search for the right path: Quartararo tested extensively but without finding decisive solutions. Instead, Honda appears to be the most conservative: a simple bike, without extreme solutions.
The real issue, however, is still aerodynamics: increasingly decisive, increasingly invasive. On one hand, it differentiates the MotoGP. On the other, it changes the way riders ride. They exploit extremely high downforce, enter corners hard, and rely on stability… until something changes. All it takes is a gust of wind or a shift in airflow, as Bezzecchi pointed out, and the balance is lost, leading to sudden falls, like Marquez’s.
It’s evolution, and it's inevitable. For decades, work focused on the chassis and engine. Today, the field of development is air. And it will be even more so when looking ahead towards 2027, with less powerful engines: aerodynamic efficiency will become fundamental for regaining speed.
In the meantime, the Jerez tests should be interpreted with caution. Ideal conditions: a track heavily covered in rubber. Scenarios quite different from those that will be found at Le Mans or, later on, in Barcelona. That's where we'll see actual real results.
Among the role players, there are also those who are still learning: Toprak Razgatlioglu continues his adaptation, especially to the Michelin tires, with Dovizioso's constant support. Pedrosa is back on track for KTM, thanks to Pol Espargaro’s injury, while Savadori continues working on the Aprilia 850, which will officially debut in the next few days.
One thing, however, is certain: everything is studied in the paddock, even with a touch of humor. When talking about aerodynamics, someone joked about the idea of “attaching the rider with Velcro” so as not to disturb the airflow. They were joking, but only up to a point.
Because air is truly everything in the MotoGP.
Next stop: Le Mans.