Barely had the Portuguese Grand Prix finished in Portimão and theannouncement of the composition of the “winter” team done, the Aprilia team traveled 300 kilometers to go to the Jerez de la Frontera circuit to carry out a first private test in preparation for the 2021 season.
Despite the privacy of these tests, the RS-GPs were not the only bikes to run on the Andalusian circuit and some information leaked to the Italian press...
The three pilots at least temporarily confirmed, Aleix Espargaro, Lorenzo Savadori and Bradley Smith all three were present on the Spanish track to test two versions of Noale's bike.
The program of developments included a new high-engine, made possible thanks to the concessions enjoyed by Aprilia unlike the five other manufacturers, a new exhaust, two new frames and a new version of the carbon swingarm already seen but never used in racing.
The Briton started testing Monday morning with the two 2021 RS GPs, the Catalan continued Monday afternoon by comparing the 2020 and 2021 models then comparing the two 2021 models on Tuesday, before handing over to his little comrades on Wednesday to continue the 2020/2021 comparisons
While heavy rain fell on the Spanish city, effectively putting an end to these tests on Wednesday afternoon, the results of the first days nevertheless appear positive and encouraging.
In total, 347 laps had already been completed during the first two days, without any breakdowns and distributed as follows: 100 laps for Lorenzo Savadori and Aleix Espargaró, and 147 for Bradley Smith.
Of course, no time has been communicated, but several videos have apparently circulated on social networks. According to GP One, we hear a V4 with a much more strident sound than the current RS-GP, and some have even wondered if it had not lost its Big-Bang configuration in favor of a Screamer setting. The Italian site concludes, however, that this would only be due to the new exhaust.
We found that…
