The spotlights on the MotoGP season have only been off for a few days but for Aprilia Racing, the work never stopped.
With Aprilia’s best ever MotoGP season in the books, the Italian Racing Department prepares the 2023 prototype.
It was an encouraging championship season for Aprilia, with the first victory in MotoGP, nine podiums, and two pole positions which shot the manufacturer to the top of world championship motorcycle racing. The best results achieved by Aprilia in its brief history but now the Italian manufacturer has already begun preparations for a 2023 season that promises to be crucial.
Lorenzo Savadori was busy with the Test Team in Jerez de la Frontera for two days of testing on 15 and 16 November. Lorenzo was able to complete 134 laps in mixed conditions, working on new electronics configurations.
Aleix and Maverick flew to Cologne for a day of wind tunnel testing. Aerodynamic studies have resulted in Aprilia coming up with innovative solutions that are leading the pack in MotoGP. Espargaró and Viñales worked on the first Aprilia 2023 prototype, the characteristics of which will be analysed and refined over the winter break.
Also making their début in the wind tunnel were Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernandez, after the outstanding first contact with the RS-GP in Valencia. For the team RNF riders, this was a session dedicated to an aerodynamic “fitting” on the new bike as they searched for the best configuration based on physical features and riding position.
But it isn’t just MotoGP, Aprilia Racing with the Factory Works programme is continuing development on sport bikes. The most recent of the special Aprilia Racing projects, the RSV4 XTrenta, registered a top speed of 320 km/h in the latest tests, achieved in just one kilometre, combining the data connected strictly with speed to the features of rideability and turning agility typical of Aprilia products. This result was made possible by the extraordinary technical platform of the RSV4, the superbike that has revolutionised the segment, winner of seven WSBK world titles where the Aprilia techs implemented the expertise gained in MotoGP, introducing advanced aerodynamics.
Testing limitations and weather conditions will move track work to the back burner while operations proceed in the Racing Department where the engineers will analyse the data collected throughout the season and finalise the 2023 choices.
Aleix and Maverick will have the new prototype for the official tests in Sepang, scheduled to be held from 10 to 12 February.