Get ready, MotoGP fans, because Aprilia is shaking things up! At the Valencia MotoGP test, marking the dawn of the 2026 season, the team unveiled a radical new aerodynamic package for the RS-GP bike, and it's turning heads. But what exactly has changed? Let's dive in!
Before we get too far, it's worth noting that Aprilia had already been experimenting with aerodynamics. At the end of the 2024 season, they tested several new fairings, eventually settling on one with small downwash ducts at the bottom of the main fairing. This became their go-to setup for the entire 2025 season. During 2025, the team focused on refining the aerodynamics behind the rider, introducing various tail unit designs and tweaking the wings positioned near the rider's legs on the seat unit.
Now, for the exciting updates! The new package, as seen in Valencia, keeps those side wings but introduces significant changes elsewhere.
Front Wing: The front wing is a major departure. It doesn't seem to be integrated into the fairing in the usual way, instead, it's supported by two hangers below the air intake. The intake itself has a revised shape compared to previous seasons. The wing's bend angle is slightly more aggressive, and Aprilia has ditched the dual-element mainplane, bringing back an upper wing reminiscent of the 2024 design, but with a much larger aerodynamic surface.
Side Fairings: The side fairings now feature much larger downwash ducts, similar to what Ducati has been developing. These ducts are also connected under the fairing, wrapping around the front of the bellypan, a design similar to KTM's recent approach.
Wheel Aerodynamics: Interestingly, there are no new front-wheel aerodynamics to complement the new ducts.
Turning Veins: The turning veins on the bulbous section, which help control airflow, remain in place.
And this is the part most people miss... The most striking change is at the back of the bike: a rear wing unlike anything we've seen in MotoGP before. Its endplates are very square and flat, reminiscent of Formula One designs from the 2009-2016 era. These endplates extend down to cover the sides of the main tail section. The goal? To create mid-corner downforce, which was lost with the removal of the 'stegasaurus' wings. The profile of the tail endplates is similar to the side wing endplates, though it's unclear how much they're designed to work together. Between the endplates is a dual-mainplane wing, curved in the same direction as the front wing, likely to manage airflow off the on-board camera. This is intended to generate straight-up-and-down downforce, improving rear stability during braking, an area of concern for riders like Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.
But here's where it gets controversial... Will this radical design be the future of Aprilia's racing? That depends on the Valencia test results. As of the time of this writing, Marco Bezzecchi is second-fastest with a time of 1:29.684, just 0.093 seconds behind Pedro Acosta.
What do you think of Aprilia's new aerodynamic package? Will it give them an edge in the upcoming season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
