Rivola drinks whey. At Silverstone, Aprilia attracted attention with its first podium in MotoGP won by its rider Aleix Espargaró who has been part of the RS-GP project since 2017. This weekend, in Aragon, the Noale brand will be just as much a center of interest since its new driver Maverick Viñales will make his debut. A return to competition after a divorce with Yamaha which will leave traces on both sides. And perhaps a little more with this confidence made by the sporting director of the Piaggio group brand, Massimo Rivola…
Massimo rivola don't shy away from your pleasure at the moment in the MotoGP paddock. The good series is in fact underway for its troops and its RS-GP which, in a few weeks, has both enhanced its record and strengthened its numbers. At the center of these two satisfactions, we find a Aleix Espargaró definitely essential in the Noale builder's project. He is the spearhead, the developer and even an outstanding recruiter. On the eve of a meetingAragon on a route which, until then, has given great satisfaction to the Aprilia, Rivola recognizes thus: “ to be honest, Aleix was a key part in all of thishas ".
The Spaniard was especially essential in the recruitment of his compatriot Casa Particular in Viñales : " Aleix told me that Maverick wasn't happy several months ago. But I didn't even consider him due to the fact that he had a very expensive contract. It was clear. But when Aleix told me he was thinking about moving in the next year, I replied: 'Okay, that's enough for me, let me talk to his manager.''
Rivola adds: " I don't remember exactly what day we started talking, but it was right after Germany, the very bad race for him ". This is enough to give food for thought on the end of his driver's journey after four and a half years of service on the M1.
Waiting, Rivola sees the nine-time MotoGP winner as an opportunity: “ we are curious to see where we are. If we look at the statistics of Aleix's teammates, the latter is always the reference in the end. It's true that it takes time to gain confidence after changing bikes, and at the same time, Aleix becomes one with our motorcycle. He has so many feelings for RS-GP because he has been supporting the project for so many years and he is in very good shape mentally and physically », rejoices the sports director Aprilia.
Rivola: “so far Aleix and Viñales are still friends, let's see if it stays like that"
But the Italian is also impressed by Casa Particular in Viñales : " I see Maverick as one of the absolute talents of the paddock, even if we clearly need to work on his place in the team so that he feels comfortable because he had these problems. I'm curious to see him on the team ". He even specifies: “ To be honest, I expect Aleix to be the benchmark, but I also expect Maverick to challenge him. Not right away, but definitely next year. And when you have two drivers challenging each other, you grow if you can keep balance and respect between the two. And so far they're still friends, let's see if it stays that waya”, slips mischievously the former sports director of Ferrari.
« I'm joking of course,” Rivola clarified on speedweek. " They have already done it at Suzuki, and for me the best message is when a rider like Aleix, who has been with Aprilia for so long, recommends a friend to come and see us. It's a good sign, it means that he believes in the project, that he sees that we're developing... You don't recommend something to a friend that isn't good. The fact that he recommended that he saw good team spirit, not only from a technical point of view, but also from a human point of view, is very promising. The fact that he sees a bright future for everything related to the team is good ". We are impatiently waiting to see how Casa Particular in Viñales will integrate and assert himself in this commando-sized group. The first responses will arrive this weekend in Aragon.
