Aprilia fights to maintain its MotoGP concessions status

The current MotoGP concessions system has two deadlines which determine what level of concessions manufacturers will have in the following six months.

One falls at the end of the 2025 season, while the other comes just before the annual summer break – which makes next weekend’s Czech Grand Prix the cut-off point.

Ducati, the brand with the fewest concessions thanks to its ongoing dominance, is in the ‘A’ category. KTM and Aprilia are in the third-tier ‘C’ category, while the Japanese manufacturers, Honda and Yamaha, have completely open concessions in ‘D’.

That means they are allowed unlimited testing with their regular race riders, more tyres at the end of the year and open engines. Those above category ‘D’ have their engines sealed.

Even with this weekend’s German Grand Prix to come before MotoGP visits the Czech Republic, it’s already clear that the only manufacturer whose concessions category could change for the second half of the year is Aprilia.

The Noale-based team must earn a total of 26 points across this weekend at the Sachsenring and next weekend at Brno to remain in ‘C’. If it doesn’t achieve that, it will drop into the ‘D’ tier.

Concessions in the ‘D’ category would allow the team to push harder in the development of its 2025 RS-GP challenger, so there is an argument that dropping from ‘C’ to ‘D’ would be no bad thing. For a team that is not in realistic contention for any championship this season, it could be particularly compelling.

However, Aprilia’s official position differs from that line of thinking with team manager Paolo Bonora hoping to eventually move up to ‘B’, or even ‘A’.

“Before the summer break, we are 26 points away from remaining in the ‘C’ concessions category,” said Bonora, whose team is second in the 2025 constructors’ standings.

“Obviously, we’ve made up for [our bad start to the season] in the last few races, showing that the bike continues to develop and that Marco Bezzecchi’s adaptation improves race after race.

“We’re working to stay in the ‘C’ category, because our ambition is to continue growing and progressing in the higher categories as well.

“We hope to continue improving at the Sachsenring, even though it’s never been one of the most favourable circuits for Aprilia, and to confirm the trend of the last few races, both here and in Brno next week.”

Aprilia came close to dropping to the ‘D’ category at the previous cut-off point at the end of the 2024 season.