Red Bull might still be the most synonymous brand when it comes to powersports, but if we're talking motorcycle racing, Monster Energy takes the crown, and the company has just extended its dominance.
Aprilia Racing recently announced that it signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Monster Energy, which began at the 2026 Grand Prix of Italy. By 2027, the brand will become the team's title sponsor. But the story is much bigger for Aprilia than simply getting another sponsor on board; it shows where the team is heading and how it's perceived overall.
Since returning to MotoGP in 2022, Aprilia hasn't had a title sponsor, hence the reason its name remains 'Aprilia Racing'. This isn't normal for a factory racing team, it's not even normal for satellite teams. Aprilia Racing was the only team on the grid that didn't have a title sponsor.
Earlier this year, Aprilia Racing CEO, Masimo Rivola, had this to say about the team's lack of a title sponsor, “Honestly, I don't want to say surprised, but I’m a bit disappointed that we didn't achieve a top title sponsor... Luckily, we have the Piaggio Group that can save us. But I would love to call Mr [Michele] Colannino [Piaggio CEO] one day and tell him that we found 10 million for the budget."
Considering the form of the Italian brand this year and the fact that its factory riders are number one and two in the championship standings, not having a title sponsor didn't make sense. Even back in 2025 Aprilia's team showed it was ready to challenge Ducati for the top team on the grid. For the remainder of the 2026 season, Monster Energy will be a main sponsor before taking the role of title sponsor in the 2027 season
So, it appears Rivola's prayers have been answered, although there's no word on how much the deal is for, but some outlets have speculated that it'll bolster Aprilia Racing's finances to the tune of around €12 million ($14 million) per year. Here's hoping that Monster Energy hasn't overcommitted its MotoGP presence, as it's already the title sponsor for Yamaha's factory team and a main sponsor for Ducati, meaning the brand occupies space on more than half of the factory machines on the grid.
