Aprilia arrived in MotoGP more or less at the same time as Suzuki and KTM. When we take stock of these three brands in the category in 2021, it is clear that the Noale factory has remained at the same point while the Austrians have three victories while the Hamamatsu brand is outright champion of the world with its pilot Joan Mir. Every season, we announce that it will be the good one for the RS-GP champions. But we remain hungry. For what ? A former Aprilia rider explains, and it's Sam Lowes...
Sam Lowes made a brief visit to MotoGP, as factory driver at Aprilia, an experience which should have been an outcome but which was a profound disappointment. A total failure which almost cost the career of the Englishman who has since bounced back by finding a Moto2 who revealed it. Today he remembers this complicated period and does not mince his words against the men of the project RS GP...
In an interview with The-Race.com, Sam Lowes says thus: “ There are only idiots in there, that's all. Stupid people who just cover their ass and don't understand how it works. They don't respect others. In racing, everything is based on respect and they lack it ».
Direct remarks which betray a still tenacious resentment of Sam Lowes with regard toAprilia. But the Englishman denies this, putting forward objective elements in his argument: “ if another rider got on the Aprilia and it went well, then I would think differently. But in the end, it's still a joke ».
A joke which is illustrated for example with the procrastination on the second 2021 pilot. Because the name of the one who will join Aleix Espargarò in 2021 is still unknown, which, for Lowes, is unjustifiable. “ How can you reach the highest level in racing, be a factory team and do something like that? It's good for me because it shows me that some things are still happening ».
Aprilia does not seduce
He takes the opportunity to defend his compatriots Smith et Redding : " it goes without saying that Bradley should fill this spot if you only have these two drivers. It's child's play. But there must be something else at play. It's really weird and I feel sorry for them ". And about Redding, who also almost foundered after her period Aprilia, he comments: “ right after me Scott also suffered and then went to BSB and he won races and the title. Then he went to World Superbike and continues to win races. There is now talk of his possible return to MotoGP. He practically mocked Aprilia, throwing his suit to the crowd after finishing last at Valencia 2018. But that's how they make you feel and now he's back in front, because he's a damn great driver ».
In 2020, Aprilia presented itself with a brand new RS-GP, promising on paper. The crisis of Covid-19 slowed down its development otherwise ensured by a single titular pilot, since the second, Andrea Iannone was suspended following proceedings initiated against him for doping. The latter resulted in a 4-year suspension, thus euthanizing the career of the Italian who was supported by his employer all the way to the steps of the court.
It's 2021 and Aleix Espargaró, the spearhead of the group's MotoGP project Piaggio swears that he wants to be in the top 6 with the machine from the Noale factory. A challenge because he finished the last season in seventeenth place. Meanwhile, no rider from the new generation considered the offer of the second handlebar from RS-GP, preferring to continue in Moto2. Veterans Crutchlow et Dovizioso also declined while the team Gresini which serves as a refuge for the brand has already made it known that it will not continue this collaboration at the end of this year…
