Aprilia's MotoGP project is assessed as undersized compared to the challenge. An incomprehensible situation when we know that we are talking about a manufacturer which is part of the powerful Piaggio group. But that's how it is, and this image is relayed not only by the drivers at the Noale factory but even in the internal organization of the team. There is one in the ranks who still defends the cause and encourages it: test pilot Bradley Smith.
The scourge ofAprilia is that it is compared with KTM, whose project arrived shortly after his. But who finishes ahead in the championship. Once again this season, the RS-GP is behind the RC16 by nine points, halfway through… However, Bradley Smith would like to re-establish certain truths: “ we must not forget that KTM can do everything in its own factory, the WP suspensions are its property. We have the same boss who owns both companies. It can halt production to ensure a chassis is ready in time for the next race weekend said the test rider and MotoE rider for Aprilia in an interview with Crash.net.
« No one has this pace of development " underlines Smith, who adds: “ I really think Aprilia is in second place in this regard, just ahead of Ducati. So I'm happy with the pace at which Aprilia is bringing new things to the slopes. KTM is at a different level in this regard, even within the budget ».
Certainly, but reality still fuels some doubts. Bradley Smith do not deny them: “ the main goal is to have RS-GP ready by early 2020 and designed in such a way that we can then create version two and then version three like our competitors » Smith said.
« Almost everyone is releasing a 2020 bike in August, we won't be able to do that, but we expect only four to six weeks of delay, which is a huge improvement over where we were last year. So the factory understands what we need and gets ahead of the game from previous years. My job is to help manage this and start the movement for the future » concludes the Englishman whose contract includes five Grands Prix as a guest this year.
