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From minnows to true engineering force: Michael Laverty backs Aprilia to challenge Ducati dominance in 2026 season after Grand Prix Thailand triumph
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Published 01/03/2026 at 13:26 GMT
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Ducati failed to produce a single rider on the podium for Sunday's Grand Prix Thailand for the first time since Silverstone 2021, with Aprilia providing the bike for four of the top five, and KTM the other. The race was won by Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi, and both Sylvain Guintoli and Michael Laverty reflected on the manufacturer's improvement recently.
'Changing of the guard' - Laverty hails Aprilia's dominance at Grand Prix Thailand
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports pundits Michael Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli were both impressed by Aprilia’s performance as Marco Bezzecchi won Grand Prix Thailand.
Bezzecchi had failed to take advantage of his pole position in Saturday’s Sprint as he crashed out on the first lap, with Ducati’s Marc Marquez claiming second after a penalty, and KTM’s Pedro Acosta victorious.
On Sunday, Bezzecchi led from the front and was largely unfettered, with Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse), Jorge Martin (Aprilia Factory) and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse again) taking third, fourth and fifth respectively for the Italian manufacturer.
Acosta was second, while Marquez failed to finish due to a flat rear tyre to exacerbate an already difficult return to racing for the world champion after his shoulder injury forced him to undergo surgery in October.
Given Ducati earned the world championship last season, there were some words to recognise the leap forward that Aprilia had made for the first race of the season - even if there was some hesitation to write off Ducati completely.
Laverty told TNT Sports: "It was a great race. This weekend we had been treated to three last-lap duels at turn 12. Today, Marco Bezzecchi made it look too easy. He just dropped the hammer. We saw on Friday he had the rhythm. He had that in his locker.
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Highlights: Bezzecchi wins opener in Thailand as Marquez brothers suffer disaster
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Aprilia is working so well in every area of this racetrack. It works in harmony with that heat-treated tyre. I don't think we're going to see that dominance [throughout the season], but how nice is it to see that turnaround from 12 months ago, where it was a Ducati domination.
"Marc could have won it with one hand tied behind his back, but today it was a very different story.
"Obviously, you don't want to root against Ducati. They've been so dominant for so long. It's the first time they've not been on the podium since Silverstone 2021.
"We've got used to their dominance, and it's nice to see [it challenged]. Aprilia are a mere minnow in terms of their factory race department, but they are a true engineering force in the way they developed that bike, and the team."
Laverty suggested that there was now a shift in power on the track, with Aprilia potentially giving their riders the best option overall.
"It's possibly the best motorcycle on the grid right now, arguably it is," he continued. "Ducati struggled a little bit, and it's good for us for the 2026 season. It's a changing of the guard right now."
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'He made it look effortless'
Alongside him in the paddock in Thailand, Guintoli echoed his colleague’s thoughts.
He said of Bezzecchi: "The advantage that he had with his pace all weekend, that he demonstrated today.
"What a ride. He made it look effortless. The only trouble was at the start and the first few weekends problem, but then he made a gap immediately of six or seven-tenths [of a second].
"The Aprilia was supremely fast today.
"Four Aprilias in the top five, and they just all look so good. The bike is so planted and stable, beautiful, and very fast as well."
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