The 2023 MotoGP season will open this weekend, on a Portimao track which had already given a foretaste of the forces present two weeks ago. The site then completed the final winter preparations before embarking on a campaign promised to be one of the hardest to experience. But this time, it will be for real, in a Portuguese Grand Prix which will go down in history as the first meeting opening the era of a new format, of which the sprint race on Saturday will be the symbol. The masks will fall in the Algarve. In the meantime, we remain cautious in the ranks, as shown by Massimo Rivola from Aprilia.
Aprilia made a good showing during this offseason by presenting himself as the only real potential rival of a powerful armada Ducati exuding like a feeling of invincibility. Enough to want to fight it out, but rather than launching into warlike phraseology, the man from Noale plays it rather modest. It will be recalled thatAprilia finished last season as the third best manufacturer behind Ducati et Yamaha . The crest also finished the team championship in third place. Now with a satellite structure, Massimo rivola sets itself the objective of doing better than in 2022 with only two drivers.
« The goal for 2023 is simply to do better than in 2022. We came third, now we must finish second. We need to make sure we raise the bar. It's a very simple goal “, declared the CEO of Aprilia Racing during the official presentation of the team.
Massimo Rivola: “ I don’t think it’s yet the time to challenge for the MotoGP title »
The Italian also surprisingly added that, this year, Aprilia should not run for the title in MotoGP, whether among manufacturers or among pilots: “ obviously, if the question is “Do you want to win the world championship?” » I say, “Yes, of course,” but I don’t think it’s time yet. Because in 2023 we will also benefit from the additional data we receive from new riders regarding the motorcycle and its characteristics. This will definitely help us grow over the year, but also in the future ».
Massimo rivola Is he too polite to be honest? Answer from this weekend in Portimao, on the land of its now satellite pilot Miguel Oliveira who will team up with a Raul Fernandez who has already shown himself to be fast in the 2022 RS-GP. For their part, Maverick Vinales et Aleix Espargaró, who is coming out of an operation on his arm which failed him during the two days of Portuguese testing, will be keen to show that the 2023 version has what it takes to respond to the compatriot GP23...
