At Aprilia, things are happening as much on the track as in the box or behind the scenes. A constant activity explained by the arrival of a promising RS-GP which must be identified and made reliable to derive encouraging potential. But an agitation which also finds its source in the doping case facing its titular driver Andrea Iannone, whose license is suspended pending his judgment. Noale's firm stands in solidarity with its Joe the Maniac, but it cannot sit idly by. She therefore took initiatives, such as integrating Lorenzo Savadori into her organization chart as a test pilot… Position held by Bradley Smith. What does the English say about it? It lifts a corner of the veil…
Andrea Iannone is still subject to a license suspension presented as temporary but which lasts. His doping case must be resolved first and while the judgment is awaited, the season is fast approaching. It will even start next weekend at Qatar… A first deadline on the calendar thatAprilia cannot approach with a single motorcycle, which is also as new as the latest version of its RS-GP.
And it is by this yardstick that we must decipher the recruitment of Lorenzo Savadori as a test pilot. Bradley Smith explains as follows: “ with this message, one could deduce at first glance that I no longer have a job. Because right now, it's my job ", said Smith smiling. “ But other things are going on behind the scenes, we have to have a plan B. Lorenzo Savadori was at Sepang to familiarize himself with the bike. We don't know what will happen to Andrea Iannone. Aprilia must cover all possibilities. So it's a test driver, but almost a "just in case test driver" if you can put it that way. I still have my job, which is the main thing, and I also rode the bike at Sepang. We will wait and see what happens in the next two months. Then everything will be clear »
« We said we didn't know what was going to happen. So we just make sure we have plans A, B and C », summarizes the 29-year-old Briton. More than three weeks have passed sinceAprilia commented on the alleged doping case, presented on 4 February before the International Disciplinary Tribunal (CDI) at the FIM headquarters in Mies, near Geneva in Switzerland. The analysis of the hair, mentioned by Iannone's lawyer, gave confidence to the Italian team led by Massimo rivola, but a judgment is still awaited. And Iannone suspended indefinitely.
If the least favorable scenario were to play out, would the Englishman be able to play teammateAleix Espargaro ? " From a physical point of view, I am ready to do a full season. I remain a little less mentally mobilized,” admits Smith. “For example, I only found out on Monday evening that I was going to Qatar. I got my plane tickets on Tuesday and left on Thursday. This is the situation we find ourselves in now. I'm still waiting. Always being on call or getting the green light is a little different. But I have to continue playing my role as a test pilot until I am an official pilot. This is what I have to do » ends the Englishman on speedweek.
