Plans at Aprilia to upgrade the factory’s testing team next year could prove a lifeline for current rider Scott Redding, set to lose the ride next year when Andrea Iannone comes in alongside current top rider Aleix Espargaro.

Iannone, French MotoGP 2018

Speaking to Dorna, team boss Romano Albesiano described how the current test team was concentrating on proving durability and race-readiness of components.

“We are thinking of something more for next year,” he said.

Redding, Malaysian MotoGP 2017