Marco Bezzecchi has rarely looked more comfortable. The Italian arrives at every round in 2026 as the rider everyone in MotoGP is trying to catch, and his sit-down on Speed with Harvick and Buxton this week underlined how settled the championship leader has become at Aprilia.
Asked about a season that has already produced a string of victories and a hefty championship lead, Bezzecchi was quick to share the credit with the Noale factory and his garage.
"I'm having fun of course, it's been a good start of the season, a good end of last year as well. So very, very happy till now, no secrets at all and just a lot of effort from me and from the whole team and the whole factory. So just giving everything every race," he told hosts Kevin Harvick and Will Buxton.
The 27-year-old joined Aprilia for the 2025 campaign after leaving the VR46 Ducati squad, and the union has clicked faster than anyone expected. Bezzecchi traced the breakthrough back to a willingness on both sides to keep evolving.
"We started our adventure together last year and immediately we noticed that the potential was good, but the bike still was not at the level that is right now. So we started working all together to try to make everything a little bit better and also myself as a rider, because at the end I needed to adapt to the bike," he said. "We need to keep working because as soon as you stop then you immediately go down."
That mindset is fast becoming the defining characteristic of Aprilia's title push. The factory delivered a one-two at the Brazilian Grand Prix in March and another statement weekend in Austin a week later. Bezzecchi pointed to the human side of the operation as the reason it keeps clicking.
"My character is always quite motivated. So it's good to find that I found also a group of people that are working with me that are also super motivated. So this can only improve everything," he said.
Conversation soon turned to the seismic 2027 technical regulations, which will introduce smaller-capacity engines, an aerodynamic reset and a switch from Michelin to Pirelli tyres. Bezzecchi expects the rubber, more than anything else, to reshape the way MotoGP is ridden.
"For sure we will have to adapt a little bit, especially because we will change tires. So this is the biggest difference in terms of riding at the end. We are used to the Michelin from many years and we will move to Pirelli that is, of course, both tires are fantastic but anyway are different," he said. "A smaller engine will take a bit of time to understand very well how to ride it in braking, in acceleration, how it feels under the bike."
The other major shift on the horizon is the calendar. Phillip Island, beloved by riders and spectators alike, will host MotoGP for the final time in 2026 before the Australian round transfers to a new street circuit in Adelaide from 2027. Bezzecchi did not hide a touch of regret about losing the Victorian classic, but he is intrigued by what the South Australian capital can offer.
"It is of course a pity to don't go in Phillip Island anymore. Of course, as you said, is a wonderful track, is an historical one and is very, very beautiful to ride. But at the end is also super cool to reach new cities and we will go to Adelaide that looks fantastic," he said. "Of course, racing in the city with the bikes will not be easy and I'm sure that they will organize everything in the best way possible to maintain and to keep the safety as the first target."
Then came the line that Australian fans will hold onto. "We will try to make a last dance in Phillip Island in the best way possible and then we will try to go in Adelaide and make a good first dance," Bezzecchi said.
The Italian also weighed in on Liberty Media's arrival in MotoGP, which has drawn obvious comparisons to the Formula 1 takeover of 2017.
"They are also trying to make some good changes. I think the level of the championship is growing a lot. We are reaching new countries. We are reaching a lot of new fans and this is very important for the championship and for us as riders," he said. "Already Dorna did a wonderful job till now, but I think that together they can make even everything even better."
For all the talk of championships, regulations and new venues, the most telling answer came when Buxton asked whether Bezzecchi had ever pictured himself in a Formula 1 car, picking up the Ferrari thread that famously circled Valentino Rossi years ago.
"Honestly, I never thought about leaving the two wheels. I love motorbikes, all the kind of bikes, and I will try to race with motorbikes as long as I can. And then in the future, maybe I will open a bar instead of racing again," he said.
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*Originally published on [Motorsports Global](https://motorsports.global/article/bezzecchi-aprilia-roll-adelaide-motogp-life-two-wheels). Visit for full coverage.*