After playing hide and seek with the photographers, this was bound to happen: The Aprilia RS-GP 2021 was captured by a lens. In this case, that of a “secret correspondent” of our colleagues at GPone, who we know is very close to the Aprilia MotoGP team, during the last day of testing in Jerez.
So, what do we see in this single photo, and which was hidden the day before by Aleix Espargaró ?
We mainly discover three things. Shorter exhausts, especially the front exhausts, a “salad box” located under the saddle that is more voluminous than in 2020, and a carbon swingarm.
Aprilia being in 2021 the only manufacturer benefiting from concessions, there is no need for them to simply modify the length of the exhausts to play with the character of the engine. We can therefore assume that if they modified these, it was more to accommodate a new engine configuration than to try to find a little acceleration. As for the terminal hexagonal section, that remains a question mark…
Regarding the "salad box", an element initially introduced by Ducati, it is still the great mystery in a paddock half of which thinks that it only contains electronic boxes (for weight distribution) and the another a Mass Damper intended to reduce chattering! In any case, the "salad box" has expanded this year, an almost certain sign that Noale's men have slipped a little weight into it.
Finally, the carbon swingarm makes its return after several unsuccessful attempts for a year. first version seen in 2018.
According to the Catalan driver's statements, the whole is promising, as confirmed by his best time of 1'37.421, which is still three tenths better than yesterday. As a reminder, he had achieved 1'37.885 during his best qualifying in 2020. We are therefore already faster, with a bike which necessarily remains to be refined.
Aleix Espargaró : « Well, the first test of 2021 is over! Happy with my performance, now back home to ride again! The base of the 2021 RS-GP is definitely promising. These are only the first tests but the times were good on a track which is not historically the best for us. There is still a lot of work to be done, especially on the power side, but in terms of ergonomics, chassis and electronics, there have been some interesting improvements. Now we are waiting for Qatar, where we will be with all the other drivers and we will understand our real level. With the hope that Fausto will soon be back on track with us. »
The eldest of the Granollers brothers also published his heart rate during five runs of five laps, indicating that he was working on his endurance.
His teammate, Lorenzo Savadori, also has Noale's latest production, and if he admits to being hampered by a problem with his right shoulder, he declares: "Everything First, my thoughts are with Fausto, who is currently fighting an uphill battle. I know his spirit and determination and we miss him dearly! It's great to be back on track after the break, it's always a special moment. Unfortunately, these tests were conditioned by a right shoulder problem which prevented me from being 100% fit. In any case, the feeling with the 2021 bike was good at first contact: it seems to have improved in every way although I think it still needs work. »
In the absence of Stefan bradl on the Honda, the other times were recorded by Dani Pedrosa in 1'38.203 and Mika Kallio in 1'39.778 on the KTM, while Miguel Oliveira et Iker Lecuona mistreated some tires on production motorcycles, Yamaha for the first, BMW for the second.
1. Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) – 1’37.421
2. Dani Pedrosa (KTM) – 1’38.203
3. Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) – 1’39.049
4. Mika Kallio (KTM) – 1’39.778
We are not aware of any other private MotoGP test before the shakedown on March 5 in Qatar, while Moto3 and Moto2 will run on March 2 and 3 in Portimão, still during private tests.
Pedrosa photo credit: A.Rivero
