There will be a lot of debate over who has advanced the most since the end of 2022 as we enter a new MotoGP season. Aprilia Racing was one of the teams who enjoyed a successful season in 2022. In addition to finishing third in the Teams’ and Constructors’ Championships, they also achieved their first victory in Argentina’s top division with rider Aleix Espargaro. Espargaro came in fourth place despite being in contention to win the Riders’ Championship.
Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, was available to speak with us, and we inquired as to how he and the team are getting ready for the 2018 season, which will be the longest in MotoGP history. Rivola was previously associated with Formula 1 and joined Aprilia in 2019. He is in charge of managing Aprilia’s operations as it begins a new MotoGP season. The CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team, however, is an Aprilia satellite team for this season. RNF previously used Yamaha equipment, but this year has switched to Aprilia. It appears that Aprilia will have a successful season thanks to more riders on the starting grid and a vehicle that impressed last time out.
How does the RS-GP for 2023 vary from the previous one? What were some of the improvement-focused areas?
Every facet of the Aprilia RS-GP was involved in its evolution. The V4 engine still offers excellent rideability while gaining more power and maximum RPMs. With a focus on grip and stability, the frame that supports the chassis architecture has been revised in response to riders’ requirements. The front winglet’s distinctive configuration and the curved side panel, both introduced in 2022, are maintained and developed in the aerodynamics, demonstrating Aprilia Racing’s technological supremacy in the field. The addition of a new Magneti Marelli ECU and improved strategy management, the focus of ongoing work that will continue race after race, boost the electronics.
Do you think that this year, rather than the engine, aerodynamics will play a significant role in creating better bikes?
These two topics are equally important. Although riders will always desire greater speed, grip, and acceleration, aerodynamics is becoming more and more crucial in MotoGP and has a significant impact on the bike’s performance. Although we think this area requires better regulation, Aprilia has its own unique approach to creating aerodynamics, and we are undoubtedly at the forefront of this industry.
This season, Aprilia has a satellite team. How will that relationship impact the growth throughout this season and the next seasons? What kind of communication will take place between the two?
The technical environment in the future tournament will be novel for us because we will have a satellite team to support us and from which we may gather increasing amounts of data. The second team’s increased responsibilities will present us with a greater task and, while it will also give us access to crucial information, it will also put our organisational and analytical skills to the test. Having accurate data available should, of course, make it easier for us to set up the bike correctly on race weekend, but I honestly anticipate that the new circumstance will aid in the development of the bike more so than in the current season.
Last year, Aprilia earned their first and lone victory to date. How does the team want to increase the frequency of P1 results this year?
Aleix Espargaro achieved his & Aprilia’s first victory in Argentina in 2022
Actually, Aprilia’s performance in 2022 was by far its finest in the MotoGP. Aleix Espargaro won the race and claimed his maiden pole position at the Termas track in Argentina. That was Aprilia’s first ever victory in the top division, and it was followed by four straight podium finishes. Aleix was still in contention for the world championship two races before the season’s finale. With one victory, five podium finishes, and two pole positions, he ultimately came in fourth. And (Maverick) Vinales’ three podium finishes helped Aprilia place third in the World Constructors’ Championship. It’s impossible to deny how quickly we progressed or how much we grew. It is a road that was carefully chosen. We are a better business overall, so I anticipate this tendency to continue.
We must both validate our potential in the championship race and continue to develop in 2023.
Which tracks on the schedule for this year do you believe your bike will do best at?
Phillip Island, Silverstone, Aragon, and Barcelona are just a few of the circuits where the RS-GP has recently demonstrated great promise, but in 2022, our bike has performed admirably at virtually every track. In 2023, consistency in performance across all circuits is the target.
Maverick Vinales riding the Aprilia RS-GP
Massimo Rivola, the boss, is obviously feeling upbeat about the next MotoGP season. The crew appears to have worked very hard to make the bike better. Maverick is in his second season with the squad, and he ought to feel even more at ease with the bike and the group this time around, giving the group a more formidable front against the opposition. The team may perform even better in 2023 than in 2022 if there are more machines on the grid, an improved machine, and motivated riders. The question is whether everything will work out when the rubber meets the road.