MotoGP | Aprilia surprises: it already uses the semi-automatic device!

The Aprilia is starting to get scary and it is not surprising that the FIM technical delegate wanted to review the wings and fairing before homologating the RS-GP 22 . Aleix Espargaró closed the test session in Sepang this Sunday just 26 thousandths behind Enea Bastianini, who broke the record on the Malaysian track.

It is true that, thanks to the concessions, Aprilia had taken advantage of the three days reserved for testers and rookies to fine-tune the bike at shakedown, but the jump from the 2022 RS-GP is clear and evident: from a Purely aerodynamic it looks like the most balanced MotoGP and it has shown excellent cornering that helps to mask the lack of some power. And even Aleix also admitted that Noale is working on the device that lowers the bike at the front…

“The bike is different from last year. And although I wasn’t ready to do a race simulation yet, I asked to do a long run to find out their reactions,” explained the Spaniard. “I did 12 laps in a row and I noticed the differences with the 2021 one. In the fastest lap there is an improvement in the corners and in the engine power. The tire management and consumption are different, it will be interesting to do a few more kilometers in the next test”.

The path taken by Romano Albesiano, Aprilia’s technical director , seems to be the right one: “The bike has improved a lot, our rivals also say so, but we’ll see in the race. At the moment it’s difficult to make comparisons with others because after the freezing period development due to COVID-19, everyone has brought something new to try, we can only do the analysis compared to the last time we came here and we are much faster: half a second in race pace and one second in one lap! !”.

Aprilia RS-GP 22: more compact bike, more effective aerodynamics

As we have already pointed out, the Aprilia RS-GP 22 seems to have been dwarfed: the bike has much more compact dimensions and, however, the rider does not feel the air, a sign that the aerodynamic level has worked well in the wind tunnel …

“The best thing is to go into the corners: you can make tighter lines. Aprilia has done a great job because it is not easy to grow in this area considering the number of components involved.”

“The bike is not a revolution, but it represents an evolution of the RS-GP 21, it is more agile and smaller. I still suffer from some vibrations like in 2019 on this track and we have to find a way to eliminate them because they affect performance. Other important area of growth is the engine: we have made improvements, but it is still not enough,” said Espargaró.

Aprilia RS-GP 22: the engine still lacks some CV

According to initial evaluations, there is talk of a difference of 10-15 hp with the new Ducati engine, but there is hope of approaching the Honda and KTM very soon…

“The chassis is different and the weight distribution has been changed. From the first moment I notice the improvements in slow corners, while in fast corners there are vibrations that limit our potential. Maverick and I closed the throttle before entering the corner because of the vibrations and not because of the fear of overdoing it. We have tried many things to overcome the problem that occurs particularly in Sepang, but we have not found a solution.”

All attention in the paddock seems to be on Ducati’s front-lowering device , but Aprilia has also tested its system…

“Aprilia works very well with these systems, we were not the first to develop them but we are certainly among the best. I have already tried three different systems and Maverick has another.”

That is to say, the device for semi-automatically lowering the motorcycle is an important source of cost (so they would gladly do without it), but if they have to go to battle, in Noale they will go with everything.