While speculation has been rampant about which MotoGP riders would sign with which teams, silly season didn't truly kick into high gear until the end of January. Will Fabio Quartararo head to Honda for 2027? So far, the man himself has confirmed that talks are underway, but says that he hasn't signed anything yet.
Still, if you want to drive both the press and the fans crazy, that suggestion is certainly one way to do it. For another way, you could do what Aprilia just did with its announcement that it's signed Marco Bezzecchi to a new two-year contract. Once the speculation is over and the paperwork is filed with everyone's lawyers, it's often a perfunctory affair, with documentary photographs to commemorate the occasion.
But Aprilia decided to take matters much, much further, and staged the whole thing as a hilarious wedding photo shoot with the Bezz that honestly, I find it hard to believe anyone will ever top. Why? Because it's brilliant, hilarious, and has the delicious self-awareness of how over-the-top this time of the season often is in the MotoGP paddock. Who doesn't love someone who can laugh at themselves every once in a while?
Naturally, Massimo Rivola was on hand to officiate, resplendent in a sash in the Italian flag tricolore. While I don't know for certain what kind of food (and cake; certainly there must have been cake) was served at the wedding reception, I am equally certain it was unbelievably delicious. Maybe almost as delicious as this photo shoot, even.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! You see, it wasn't just the photo shoot; no, whoever wrote Aprilia's press release for this one took it even a step further. Rather than simply confirm that Bezz had signed the contract in standard presser language, they instead wrote it out like wedding vows. Incidentally, the RS-GP is also known as Albarosa, and is referred to by her proper name throughout the vows as written.
Choice lines include, under the heading "MAINTENANCE, CARE, AND SPORTING CUSTODY,"
MARCO undertakes to treat ALBAROSA with the diligence of a good garage caretaker, ensuring her routine and special maintenance in accordance with technical plans.
On her part, ALBAROSA undertakes to provide power in a quantity proportional to the twisting of the right wrist, avoiding manifestations of electronic jealousy towards other bikes on the grid.
Under the heading "RACE MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC DECISIONS," it reads,
Decisions on tyres, setup, overtaking on the final lap, and on race strategies in general, will always be implemented jointly, in observance of the principles of reason and track limits.
On the track, in the event of any discord, MARCO's feeling will prevail. In this case, ALBAROSA may express disagreement by vibrating or skidding, but not beyond the limits of traction control.
Here's wishing Marco and Albarosa all the best going forward, and many thanks to everyone who came together to make this Aprilia signing announcement a truly memorable one, no matter how the next two seasons pan out on the podium.
Gallery: Aprilia x Marco Bezzecchi
