Aprilia project for entry into the 2023 FIM EWC Endurance World Championship: The RSV4 1100 towards homologation. Anticipation in detail.
About Alessio Piana / Corsedimoto.com
After Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW and Ducati, the 2023 World Endurance Championship could and should welcome Aprilia among the manufacturers represented. This (welcome) news, which we have been talking about for two months, has gained substance and feasibility in the last period. As a preview, we can reveal the initial idea of a project which would see the RSV4 1100 entered, for the first time, in an international championship under the aegis of the FIM.
APRILIA INTERESTED IN FIM EWC
For Noale, it would not be a “MotoGP style” commitment with his own official team, but a direct interest in homologating the new RSV4 1100. With the hope of seeing as many of them as possible on the starting line. This is a starting plan for the upcoming 2023 season, guaranteeing an additional competitive boost to its hyper-sport motorcycle so far limited to national championships only.
THE APRILIA RSV4 1100 IN THE RACE
To date, the Aprilia RSV4 1100 has raced (and won) in CIV Superbike and, for several years, in the British Stock 1000 (Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship) with some success already under its belt. With the doors closed to homologation in World Superbike, also (and above all) because of the perplexities expressed by the competition, it would find fertile ground in the FIM EWC. In fact, she could already run today.
GREEN LIGHT FOR THE 1100 IN THE FIM EWC
The most attentive will not have missed the fact that at the 2022 Bol d'Or, a 1100cc was at the start. More precisely, a Ducati Panigale V4 S, from a very private team, registered in the Experimental class. Ostracized until now, even in the World Endurance Championship, 1100cc motorcycles can now race in this specific category, although this is a regulatory prerogative aimed at not "disturbing" motorcycles. the top EWC category in terms of performance. Prerequisites precisely to avoid making Experimental a class of “prototypes”.
WE TURN TOWARDS SUPERSTOCK
However, Aprilia's intention is to race in the Superstock category. While to participate in the EWC it is necessary to homologate the bike according to FIM Superbike specifications, the Stock category poses no problem in this regard. On the other hand, this is a category which is still only active in the World Endurance Series and which, on this very grid, is intended for private teams. Initially, Aprilia wants to see several teams racing with the RSV4 1100cc, from 2023, carefully monitoring the results obtained and the performances expressed, guaranteeing them support wherever possible and, last but not least (or rather, before everything), by finding a reality of self-financing through the marketing of the RSV4 for racing engagement.
APPROVAL NODE
For the FIM Superstock homologation, in addition to Aprilia itself, the promoter of the world endurance championship (Discovery Sports Events) and several influential figures from the CCR commission of the International Federation were also mobilized. On the other hand, Noale's membership in the FIM EWC would be very beneficial to the endurance motorcycle racing movement. Clarifications in this direction are expected in the coming weeks with, presumably, details of the approval (or not) expected by February.
FOR APRILIA, IT WOULD BE A RETURN
Aprilia's interest in the World Endurance Championship has already attracted the attention of several teams, who are enthusiastic about the idea of racing the RSV4 1100cc next year. In recent seasons, we have seen some RSV4 1000s at the start of the Suzuka 8 Hours (with Team Sugai Racing Japan) and, year after year, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Team Le Mans 2 Roues, Aprilia dealer in Sarthe, which also counted Alex Bernardi among its riders for the 2022 edition. It is worth remembering that in the past Aprilia participated directly in the World Endurance Championship, achieving a victory in the Stock Sport category at the 8 Suzuka 2005 Hours and a top 10 at the Bol d'Or with the Motociclismo Test Team. It was a different time, but now endurance should be back on the agenda in Noale…
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