Here's the thing about the ongoing debate in the paddock: as Motorsport.com España reports, Andrea Dovizioso has waded right into the title discussion with a remarkably blunt assessment. While nobody is denying the sheer brilliance of Marc Marquez and his stellar campaign, the former rider argues that the truly fastest package on the grid was actually the combination of Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia.
Following the race in Qatar, with Marquez standing on the verge of claiming a tenth world title and an eighth in the premier class, the post-race analysis has grown fierce. Massimo Rivola, general manager of the racing department for the Noale manufacturer, pointed directly to the rider from Cervera as the primary reason for a staggering comeback that erased a 102-point deficit and turned it into a 60-point advantage across just 13 grands prix. Speaking to Sky Sport MotoGP, Rivola admitted that sometimes four Aprilia machines simply are not enough to defeat Marquez, signaling that individual talent ultimately tamed the RS-GP.
Naturally, the response from the factory Borgo Panigale side was swift. Davide Tardozzi countered that while four Aprilia bikes might fall short, there are six Ducati machines on the grid and others have taken wins too. Tardozzi emphasized that success requires an entire synchronized operation—a fast rider, a competitive machine, and proper technical and sporting management working seamlessly together.
That is when Andrea Dovizioso stepped into the fray on his podcast to deliver the hardest truth of all. While making it abundantly clear that Marquez deserves his accolades and has performed at an astonishing level following his surgery—even noting that Marquez claims to be in the finest mental shape of his career—Dovizioso insisted that the Bezzecchi and Aprilia pairing held all the cards and let them slip through their fingers.
According to Dovizioso, the combination was fundamentally quicker than the Marquez and Ducati duo, and they had built up an advantage exceeding 100 points. When your machine proves more competitive across multiple circuits and you still fail to secure the crown, the conclusion is unavoidable. In his view, despite Marquez making a massive mental difference this year, Bezzecchi and Aprilia simply failed to measure up when it mattered most and ultimately threw the world championship away.
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