Warning :
Unlike the vast majority of articles on our site, this new section does not only report information, it leaves a certain freedom, even a certain freedom, to the thoughts of its author accustomed to the literary world who will publish under the pseudonym of Vernon Stoner.
Here, we relate, of course, but we also extrapolate, we speculate, we construct, in short, we discuss and exchange!
You have the right to respond in comments, to correct, to proclaim your indignation, or, at worst, if it really gives you heartburn, to change the section...
Are you still there? Little curious people, go… Come on, gaaazzzz!
From the kid who makes his debut in CEV to the Moto 2 rider who competes for the podium on Sunday, everyone has the same goal, the same dream, to access the premier category, the famous MotoGP. But there is an even greater objective than this, to be a starter in a factory team.
Therefore, we wonder how a place at Aprilia can remain vacant and even worse, be rejected as much by young people with everything to prove as by veterans at the end of their careers with little to lose. It is true that Aprilia was, at that time, under the leadership of Gresini Racing team until at least 2021 and that its “factory” status was not completely acquired, but it is legitimate to question the why of these numerous refusals. Furthermore, in view of these elements, listen Massimo Rivola talking about a satellite team in 2022 leaves one wondering when we know that the world champion team, Suzuki, is also on the case. Without forgetting the VR46 who lurks around...
The Aprilia affair begins on December 17, 2019 at Malaysian Grand Prix when the flagship driver, Andrea Iannone, is suspended by the END for suspicion of doping. If this kind of imbroglio is commonplace in other sports, it is very rare in motorcycling since the last one to have paid the price is Anthony West in 2012. It was a thunderclap in the paddock. The stable of Noale, already in turmoil due to a lack of results which lasts a little too long, finds itself in a very delicate situation and must deal with the most urgent matters. The handlebars are urgently given to the test pilot, Bradley Smith. The Englishman left the set in 2019 after two bland seasons with KTM with an eighteenth place overall as the best result, and it is obvious that Aprilia is not hoping for miracles. It's a temporary solution while waiting for the Italian to get out of trouble. Alas, the nightmare continues since the TAS drags on to deliver its verdict, while the news RS GP, which promised wonders on paper, struggles to convince. Aleix Espargaró finished 17th in the 2020 championship and Bradley Smith, who only pocketed one point, was even invited to give up his place to Lorenzo Savadori, vice-champion ofItaly Superbike in 2020, for the last three rounds. In the meantime, the ax fell on Andrea Iannone. The Transalpine driver receives a four-year suspension which pushes him towards retirement as early as it is unwanted. The situation is serious in Veneto and we absolutely must find the shock replacement who can finally lead the RS-GP 20 into the top 10 on a regular basis. This is where things get complicated...
Cal Crutchlow, who was ousted from sling lcr for the benefit of the cadet Márquez, immediately suggests himself. He says that developing RS-GP could be a lot of fun and that he is ready to commit fully to the project. Aleix Espargaró also votes for, but the deal does not happen. Aprilia is eyeing a much bigger fish. And maybe that's the mistake...
Vice-champion during the three previous seasons, and the only one to be able to regularly compete with the captain of Cervera whose return is expected, Andrea Dovizioso is a godsend that should not be missed. Aleix Espargaró does not hesitate to use the ointment to coax the Italian by declaring:“For me, he is the second best driver in the world over the last five years. He would be more than welcome at Aprilia. ". But Dovi, with great tact, declines the offer. If continuing his career in MotoGP is his objective, he wants to do it in conditions allowing him to play for victory and, a priori, he does not consider that to be the case with Aprilia. Hard…
The Italian firm is falling back (no pun intended) on youth and is looking for fresh flesh in the person of Marco Bezzechi. The VR46 protégé is promising and no one sees why he would refuse such an offer. But again, it's a cold shower... After hesitation, he half-heartedly states that he wants to stay one more year in Moto 2 to prove himself and deserve his ride in MotoGP. Info or intox ? Wouldn't he rather mean "deserve a good handlebar"?... If the VR46 and its GP project crosses your mind, you are perhaps not very far from the real reason...
Never mind, there are other hopes in Moto 2! To start with Joe Roberts which is in full progress. Be the first American pilot since the late Nicky Hayden joining the ultimate category should satisfy him. And yet… Roberts kicks things in by saying that he too wants to win Moto 2 before taking the plunge. He will say : “I was happy with Aprilia’s call. I like the atmosphere, they all seem like friends. » Compliment when we talk about the elite of motorcycle sport? Not sure..
Fabio DiGiannantonio is the third rookie on the list, but he also says he wants to win in Moto 2 above all else. Where things get complicated is when he specifies that he especially wants to stay in Fausto's fold. The problem is that Di Giannantonio is almost guaranteed to move up to MotoGP in 2022 with… Gresini Racing. Was there already divorce in the air between Aprilia and the team of the former double 125 world champion? It seems so since we have since known that Gresini has regained his marbles and covets Suzuki or Ducati...
Other names could have been pulled from the Moto 2 hat. We think of Marcel Schrötter, Tetsuta nagashima, or Héctor Garzo, but, following this umpteenth refusal, Noale's management decided to suspend prospecting. Perhaps the already staggering number of disappointments has calmed their ardor because, if ridicule does not kill, it does not contribute to the credibility of an enterprise that we sometimes imagine to be on the verge of agony.
It's hard not to conclude that the RS-GP project is unattractive. Could Aleix Espargaró's various declarations during the season have cooled everyone's desires? Remember that the Spaniard lost his temper several times with scathing sentences against his employer such as “Why should we need more time than our competitors? », or “I'm very angry about this season, really very angry, because we never showed that the bike was close to the leaders”, and conclude “I am very disappointed with this year. » The fact that Aprilia is once again the brand which has scored the fewest points in the manufacturer's championship probably does not help matters. From there to thinking that the Spaniard could leave for greener pastures if the opportunity presented itself…
The conclusion of the story is quite astonishing since, despite Aprilia's efforts, no driver was tempted to embark on the RS-GP 20 adventure and the final choice will fall on Bradley Smith or Lorenzo Savadori. All that for this…
All our best wishes for recovery to Fausto Gresini.
Vernon
