Aprilia drops big hint about an ultra-spec race replica for the uber-rich
In Aprilia-ese the letter ‘X’ represents expensive track-only machines with DNA that’s closely related to the company’s works racers.
Now it looks like Aprilia is upping the exclusivity stakes. We had the RSV4 X in 2019, the Tuono V4 X in 2020, the RSV4 XTrenta in 2022 and the RSV4 X EX3MA in 2024 – each with production numbers as low as their price tags were high. Now another is on the way, as Aprilia has filed trademark applications for the name XGP alongside a logo that borrows the same stylised ‘X’ sported on those earlier models, with the letters ‘GP’ set into it where previously we’ve seen ‘EX3MA’ or ‘Xtrenta’ written.
By calling the new bike ‘XGP’ Aprilia is providing the closest association yet to its RS-GP MotoGP racer (pictured above in preseason testing), and the name and logo alone don’t reveal what model it will be based on. While the odds are that it will be another 230hp-plus, track-only variant of the RSV4 superbike, there’s a chance it could be a Tuono or – and it’s a long shot – even a customer version of the RS-GP racer. After all, if it’s track-only, with no road approval required and a seemingly endless queue of millionaires wanting the ultimate motorcycle, either for their collection or the experience, why not make an out-and-out GP replica, detuned just enough to make it possible to run it without a whole team of mechanics to back it up?
The clear ‘GP’ link means it’s likely to emerge at a MotoGP round rather than a show. We anticipate the San Marino round at Imola in September.
