Massimo Rivola is to Aprilia what Gigi Dall'Igna is to Ducati, but the RS-GP is still far from matching the Desmosedici on the track. The 2021 MotoGP season was, however, encouraging for Noale's men, with a machine that finally got on a podium, thanks to Aleix Espargaró at Silverstone. But the last step towards the top of the hierarchy is steep and Massimo Rivola and his team noticed it at the end of the campaign, where they saw their rise stall. We will therefore still have to work hard this winter for a year 2022 when the brand will present itself under its sole colors for the first time.
Massimo rivola would have liked to wear a frank smile at the end of the game Valencia speaking of the 2021 season which had just ended. But he cannot afford to display this satisfaction in view of the latest results, and he does not hide it: “ we didn't finish the season the way we should have. We have not confirmed the good performance we saw during the year ". He even says: “ honestly, I'm a little disappointed. But this Tuesday we will already be in Jerez to test next year's bike, there is a lot of work in the pipeline and a great desire to do well. There are factors that are within our control, others less ».
One last remark on which he unfortunately does not expand. But he broadens the spectrum of his analysis: “ it was still a good season compared to past ones. We need to focus on what we are doing. We are looking forward to the 2022 season with enthusiasm also because we will be there as an official team. If we look at our journey since 2019, we fortunately see progress and a reduction in the gap with the leading group ". However… " But we're still behind, so we still have a way to go ».
Massimo Rivola talks about Maverick Viñales but also Valentino Rossi
He also talks about his new recruit in MotoGP, Maverick Vinales, with which we must find a human balance at least as sensitive to define as the technical one on the RS-GP: “ The approach we took with Maverick was that the races carried out were so many test days. We tried different parts, settings and configurations. We tried to understand what was best for him, we sacrificed the aspect of the result, and sometimes his confidence was difficult to build ". He ends with the Spaniard: “ but I am certain that we have great talent with us in Maverick and I am confident that we will be able to marry our skills with his talent ».
Massimo rivola ends his demonstration by having a thought for the one who left the paddock, either Valentino Rossi : " I had the chance to know Vale even when he tried the Ferrari, he was also very strong in Formula 1. The beautiful thing is that he has always kept the same approach over the years, winning everything. What will never happen again is a Valentino Rossi. Today, drivers who have special holidays copy a bit of everything Vale has invented. He was a marketing genius as well as a great champion, he will certainly be missed ».
It will be recalled thatAprilia finished this last year of the six manufacturers with 121 points and antepenultimate in the team standings. But the Noale firm only had one top driver: Aleix Espargaró.
