Aprilia will once again launch an attack on the world title after the great 2022 season. The RS-GP of the RNF satellite team will also be chasing the Ducati.
About Luigi Ciamburro de Motoracing
The 2023 MotoGP championship also promises to be a challenge between Ducati et Aprilia, at least on paper and based on what we saw last season. Of course, fabio quartararo et Yamaha took 2nd place in the standings, but it is true that without technical problems and errors in the stands, Aleix Espargaró could have fought all the way to Valencia. Instead, we saw third place slip away and fall into the bag ofEnea Bastianini during the last Grand Prix, leaving a feeling of bitterness in the company based in Noale which deserves a good final mark for what was done in 2022.
Having broken the taboo of the first victory, Aprilia knows how to count on a proven team, both on the track and at the technical level. Over the past two years, RS-GP has developed in all sectors, starting with the 4° V90 engine through to electronics and, above all, aerodynamics. Numerous tests were carried out in the wind tunnel and innovations also introduced during the season and during official tests. “ The improvements made by Aprilia are incredible, I am really proud of the work accomplished - commented Aleix Espargaró during the MotoGP season finale -. “ However, thinking about the possibility of winning the title, we have not reached the level of Bagnaia. During the last 4-5 Grands Prix, we made too many mistakes, we were too slow to adapt to new avenues ».
For Aprilia one of the secrets of Ducati's success has been to work with its satellite teams, to improve the level of the factory team
Ducati certainly showed that he had an advantage over his Venetian cousins, especially in the second half of the world championship. But Aprilia especially paid dearly for a drop in concentration within the team in general, beyond the individual error. “ In the last races, we did not work at a high level, it's not a problem to accept it, but it is frustrating. If we want to fight for the title, we have to improve together ».
The Borgo Panigale team could count on eight motorcycles on the grid against the two from the manufacturer Noale. But from this year, the balance changes thanks to the arrival of the new customer team RNF extension which will line up two 2022 prototypes for Miguel Oliveira et Raul Fernandez. " I think one of the secrets of Ducati's success has been working with its satellite teams, to improve the level of the factory team ", highlighted Aleix Espargaró. " Last year they started the season with a lot of problems, but they worked well together and won the title ».
Doubling the RS-GPs on the grid should accelerate the evolution of the bike, especially now that the concession points in the regulations have ended. “ Our work essentially consists of increase our understanding of motorcycling and having different riders. We will have four pilots, this will make us even richer in terms of data ", has explained Roman Albesian. " Different riders with different style, different approach, all that just gives us more information and following a different way of riding than others is not difficult. If you have a clear idea, you can do it easily, because these bikes have a huge range of adjustments ". The challenge for Ducati is about to begin...
