Massimo Rivola is the man from Aprilia who saw part of his dreams come true in just a few weeks. Thus, its RS-GP got on the podium with its driver Aleix Espargaró who can finally now count on a teammate at MotoGP level, in this case Maverick Viñales. In the meantime, Andrea Dovizioso got back into the mix with Noale's bike, thus also putting it in the spotlight. And about all that, in Aragon, the defector from Formula 1 spoke about it in Aragon…
Massimo rivola has probably never been so solicited by the media in MotoGP and this is a sign that the project Aprilia has entered another dimension for some time. The podium at Silverstone undoubtedly marked the occasion, but what is especially remembered is the installation of Maverick Vinales until the end of 2022. This after a crisis with his former employer Yamaha which highlighted the special character of Top Gun…
Public chat GP One, Rivola returns to this new recruit… “ Vinales? He knows he can't miss any more opportunities, but I think he's learned from his mistakes » evaluates the frameworkAprilia Racing who adds: “ I generally prefer to work with those who have the greatest potential, regardless of their character. This can be fixed, whereas if there is no potential you have difficulty getting it out. His approach with us is perfect from every point of view: technical, human, there was humility in making himself available to the team. In an environment like ours, smaller and very passionate, I think he can make the difference ».
Coming back to the episode Yamaha , and in particular on the painful epilogue showing him getting annoyed on the engine of the M1, Rivola precise : " If one day we reach this point, we too will have to examine our consciences. I hope that doesn't happen ". And he thinks it all the less as he adds: “ next year Viñales will win with Aprilia. Now we are no longer afraid that only Aleix Espargarò can ride our motorcycle ».
Rivola: “ in a year and a half, Dovizioso will be a better tester for us«
Rivola also has a thought for Dovizioso who tested the RS-GP before heading to Yamaha , an opportunity given precisely by the departure of Casa Particular in Viñales : “ I'm happy that Dovizioso is going to Yamaha, in a year and a half he will be a better tester for us » he laughs. “ I could have hoped he would race with us in 2021. Then when we managed to take him testing with us, it was always clear to me that he could be an excellent test pilot for us, but not a regular pilot. At the historical moment he and we were in, we both had a need for something different ».
Dovizioso will make his return to MotoGP on the Yamaha Spec-B in the colors of Petronas before doing the 2022 season on a more advanced model in a revised and corrected structure due to the departure of the Malaysian oil company. Casa Particular in Viñales, he will continue his journey as an Aprilia official.
