MotoGP #SepangTest J.1 The Aprilia has had a makeover, Aleix Espargaro fourteenth

The Aprilia team has worked a lot this winter and the RS-GP is a completely new machine. Romano Albesiano, the brand’s Competition Director, promised: “ between the 2017 RS-GP and the 2018, there are almost no common parts: Engine, cooling system, chassis, carbon fork, even the aerodynamics have been revised while waiting for a more radical change which we are working on. We are focusing on all aspects, having collected the ideas developed in 2017.”

The engine is now more linear, more powerful, and consumes less. The Aprilia racing department also worked on improving braking stability, mainly working on chassis rigidity. In terms of apparent details, the fuel tank cap was moved from the false tank top to the seat. The side curvature of the frame was different, as were some of the air intakes and the exhaust. Obviously, the most important changes were not visible.

The first results were correct, taking into account that it was a new machine. Aleix Espargaro was only fourteenth in 2'00.866, 1.439 behind Dani Pedrosa's best time, but he was only 0.152 behind the thirteenth time set by Maverick Vinales.

His new British teammate Scott Redding also discovered the 2018 version of the RS-GP. He ranked twenty-first in 2'01.962, 2.535 behind Dani Pedrosa, and 0.098 behind twentieth-placed Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki tester.

Aleix Espargaro:

“Today was like the first day of school. The first two hours were demanding after so much time not riding MotoGP, but step by step I found the feeling again.

“The first approach with the new bike was definitely positive. Especially regarding the frame, the 2018 RS-GP allows me to go better in the corners and reflects what I asked from the Aprilia engineers. We still have a lot of room for improvement.

“The bike is at 75% and we will reach 100% for the Qatar tests. Tomorrow we will continue working on the 2018 bike, while on the third day we will do comparative tests to have clear ideas on the development between now and the first race. »

Scott Redding:

“This morning in the wet with the 2017 bike I found a pretty good feeling straight away and we continued to improve with each outing, reaching a good level.

“The first approach with the 2018 RS-GP was just a taste. We simply moved the settings from the old bike to the new one. I felt the potential, but it's a very different bike, so we'll have to work to adapt it to my needs.

“We're going to focus on that over the next couple of days, both in terms of saddle position and settings. »

Roman Albesian (Aprilia Competition Director):

“The new bike that debuted today was confirmation for Aleix of the good points highlighted by our tester Baiocco, as evidenced by the improvement in lap time.

“There are positives when entering and exiting corners. It's a good starting point for a first day which was more of an introductory phase. We will analyze our performance over the next few days, but the first approach was certainly promising. »

Results of the first day:

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 59.427s [Lap 55/56]
2. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP18) 1m 59.770s +0.343s [33/35]
3. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (GP18) 2m 59.802s +0.375s [38/38]
4. Danilo Petrucci ITA Pramac Ducati (GP18) 2m 0.123s +0.696s [29/30]
5. Jack Miller AUS Pramac Ducati (GP17) 2m 0.178s +0.751s [42/43]
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 2m 0.233s +0.806s [44/50]
7. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.290s +0.863s [50/51]
8. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1) 2m 0.421s +0.994s [60/62]
9. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.522s +1.095s [28/38]
10. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 2m 0.568s +1.141s [38/39]
11. Alex Rins ESP Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 2m 0.627s +1.200s [61/63]
12. Takaaki Nakagami GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.664s +1.237s [63/64]
13. Maverick Viñales ESP Movistar Yamaha (YZR-M1) 2m 0.714s +1.287s [55/72]
14. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 2m 0.866s +1.439s [34/40]
15. Tito Rabat ESP Reale Avintia (GP17) 2m 0.912s +1.485s [66/66]
16. Andrea Iannone ITA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 2m 1.027s +1.600s [27/41]
17. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 2m 1.099s +1.672s [29/39]
18. Franco Morbidelli ESP EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 2m 1.161s +1.734s [61/62]
19. Alvaro Bautista ESP Angel Nieto Team (GP17) 2m 1.728s +2.301s [30/40]
20. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 2m 1.864s +2.437s [37/58]
21. Scott Redding GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 2m 1.962s +2.535s [40/51]
22. Yamaha Test 3 JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 2.044s +2.617s [26/28]
23. Yonny Hernandez COL Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1) 2m 2.053s +2.626s [47/47]
24. Karel Abraham CZE Angel Nieto Team (GP16) 2m 2.088s +2.661s [46/46]
25. Yamaha Test 2 JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 2.527s +3.100s [23/39]
26. Xavier Simeon ESP Reale Avintia (GP16)* 2m 2.946s +3.519s [45/47]
27. Tom Luthi SWI EG 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 2m 3.732s +4.305s [57/58]
28. Yamaha Test 1 JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 3.786s +4.359s [3/3]
29. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Rider (GP18) 2m 4.767s +5.340s [3/4]
30. Mika Kallio FIN Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) 2m 5.932s +6.505s [7/7]