It is an Albesiano with a certain workload who gave his feelings on Aprilia's preparations for the next MotoGP season. A clear guideline assumed by the sports boss in Noale, but also an admission that, at Aprilia, the means are not infinite.
Roman Albesian is the one who replaced at the helm of sports at Aprilia a certain Gigi Dall'Igna. A succession which is not easy, especially since the one who left for Ducati had not hidden the reasons for his choice at the time: the feeling of an inadequacy between the means and the ambition to impose itself in MotoGP with RS-GP.
Where have we been since? Aprilia evolves, but at its own pace.
After the anger of the boss of a Piaggio group of which the brand is a part, the RS-GP has seen better and can congratulate itself on its overseas campaign.
In summary, before Valencia, Baptist claims two seventh places in Motegi and Japan. Thirteenth in the world championship with 76 points scored, he is ahead of his teammate
Bradl who is sixteenth overall with 60 units, and also a seventh position as best result under the checkered flag. It was in Argentina. But the German is happy to present the best qualification for an RS-GP with the eighth time in Australia.
Overseas results missed by the boss retained at headquarters. Because he is very alone: “ my role is also to plan all the sporting activities for the next two years and that is why I was not able to travel ". He hasn't yet changed the toner on the photocopier, but still...
An atmosphere that puts thearrival of the next RS-GP only for the month of January. He explains : " the new bike will not be in Valencia. Aleix Espargarò and Sam Lowes will use this RS-GP. We will be attentive to Aleix's observations to put the final touches on the new bike which will debut in January during a private test ».
No delays or panic. It is therefore a deliberate choice: “ we need a rider who can give us information about another bike. And Aleix can enlighten us like this. Álvaro and Stefan are having a great end to the season, and I'm sorry they're leaving us, but unfortunately we don't have four bikes ».
Which brings us back to the question of means: “ the new motorcycle will be an evolution of this with some modifications. Our current machine has no major weak points and our current riders are asking for more maneuverability in the corners ". And the engine? “ You never have enough power and the more you have, the better. ". We will be satisfied with that, remembering that Aprilia has been using a counter-rotating engine since the beginning of this season. A speech far from the outpourings of the new arrival KTM which is the declared danger of Aprilia, and this, perhaps even from its appearance in Valencia in a few days.
We therefore understand that Aprilia satellites are not current: “ At the moment, I would rather have two bikes capable of winning the title. All joking aside, I know a satellite bike would help with development, with a young rider, but that's not in our plans at the moment ". Limited forces therefore, and which will also be dispersed… “ Our priority is MotoGP, but next year we will also increase our efforts in Superbike ».
The match with KTM promises to be exciting…
