Comparison is not right but when we look at Suzuki's career in MotoGP and put it into perspective compared to that of Aprilia, whose involvement in the category is almost as recent, we tell ourselves that it is better to be Japanese than Italian. We expected a little better from a factory which showed its know-how by collecting the Superbike titles after overloading its cupboard when its two-stroke engines ruled the roost in 125 and 250.
Within the European Piaggio group, we probably also hoped for a little better. When we take stock of the situation after two years of involvement and seven Grands Prix contested this year, we see that the RS-GP is not a terror. Its pilots Bradl et Baptist have the best result to present respectively a seventh position and an eighth place. And within the Noale staff, we know that we need to find thirty horses in the engine to be at the level of the competition.
Roman Albesian, who had the heavy task of ensuring the succession of Gigi Dall'Igna at Aprilia, is aware of all this and knows that the time for choices has arrived. On GP One, he promised that the hours on the bench would be doubled for the engine: “ the idea is to reduce our qualifying liability by one second on the best and to finish the race around twenty seconds behind the leader ". For this, according to the head of Noale, we still need to find around thirty cavallinos. Objectives which show how difficult it is to find your place among the elite.
On this, we also need to expand the troops. Currently, Mike Di Meglio is taking care of the tests but we are looking for reinforcement. Among the holders, both Baptist which Bradl are in the hot seat. Because Sam Lowes will already take a place while the second handlebar is currently being negotiated with Aleix Espargaró. And then there is also the idea of a satellite team. In this area, we were rather expecting Suzuki, but we are not very enthusiastic about the prospect on the Hamamatsu side. On the other hand, in Noale, if: “ the chance of having a second team is 50% » announces the same Albesiano but on Speedweek this time.
And who would this support be? The Aspar stable. The same one who rode a Honda last year, is entering Ducatis this year, and is also speaking with Suzuki. The answers should arrive as early as Assen or in Austria at the latest. You shouldn't miss it because in 2017 KTM is also coming. And there will be no question of Aprilia doing worse than the Austrians!
