Aprilia have enjoyed a leap in quality in the 2022 MotoGP season, in which they achieved their first victory in the modern era with Aleix Espargaró at the Argentine Grand Prix.
The Spaniard occupies the second position in the general classification of drivers, 32 points behind the current world champion and leader, Fabio Quartararo, after 13 races in which both drivers of the Italian team have been on the podium.
Noale’s have occupied the bottom of the grid since their return to MotoGP in 2015, but have made great strides with the RS-GP from 2021 by using results-based concessions. Another key change at Aprilia that has contributed to its rise up the rankings has been the arrival of Massimo Rivola as CEO in 2019.
The Italian, of whom Fernando Alonso said that he is “like a brother”, was Ferrari’s sports director in Formula 1 before his move to two wheels, in addition to having been present in other teams such as Toro Rosso or Minardi , where the Their paths crossed for the first time.
“Massimo [Rivola] is like a brother to me,” said the two-time world champion in motorsport’s top category when asked in Austria after Aprilia invited him to their garage.
“We started together at Minardi back in 2001, we have been working together in the car world for more than two decades, and it is incredible what Aprilia has done in the last year and a half, we are all very proud of Massimo and the team” , indicated the Asturian.
Over the weekend in Austria, Dorna announced the introduction of sprint racing in 2023 at every grand prix after taking inspiration from the format adopted by Formula 1 at various events in 2021. Alonso supported the idea, noting that “everything we makes MotoGP is an inspiration for other categories”.
“I think it’s a great idea, I think it will bring some action to Saturday. So we’ll all be in front of the television on that day, not just on Sunday,” he said. “The results are not mixed with Sunday on the grid, so I think the drivers will be able to risk a little more knowing that they are not going to compromise the race the next day.”
“I think it’s a great idea, and everything Carmelo [Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports] and MotoGP does is always an inspiration for other categories. I think this is going to be another one,” concluded the man from Oviedo.
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