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Aprilia Racing

Tahun 2022 menjadi tahun penting buat Aprilia apabila meraikan ulang tahun ke-30 kejayaan merangkul kejuaran dunia Grand Prix sulung. 

Menariknya, tahun ini juga menyaksikan Aprilia melakar pencapaian penting di pentas MotoGP, dengan Aleix Espargaro memenangi GP Argentina manakal rakan sepasukan Maverick Vinales telah pun merekodkan podium keduanya di GP San Marino, pada Ahad.

Sehubungan itu, Aprilia memperkenalkan RSV4 XTrenta bagi meraikan pencapaian pengeluar motosikal Itali itu.

Berasaskan jentera superbike Aprilia RSV4, jentera RSV4 XTrenta ini merupakan mesin khas dibina untuk litar perlumbaan (track-only). 

Menariknya, RSV4 XTrenta ini disuntik dengan pelbagai ciri sama yang terdapat pada jentera MotoGP Aprilia, RS-GP 22 yang ditunggang Espargaro dan Vinales.

Pertamanya, RSV4 XTrenta ini dibangunkan dengan proses PAN Compositi yang sama diguna pakai pasukan MotoGP. 

Hasilnya, Aprilia RSV4 XTrenta ini menawarkan pakej aerodinamik dan winglet seperti yang terdapat pada RS-GP.

Bukan itu sahaja, RSV4 XTrenta turut tampil dengan ciri ‘under-wing’ atau ‘The Spoon’ yang dipasang pada bahagian bawah swingarm dan dihadapan tayar belakang.

‘The Spoon’ tersebut berfungsi mengawal keadaan suhu tayar belakang bagi memastikan cengkaman berada di tahap optimum.

Ini pertama kalinya sebuah motosikal ‘production’ dilengkapi ciri tersebut.

Selain itu, Aprilia turut mengemas kini enjin V4 1,099cc yang kini menghasilkan 230hp. Ekzos titanium yang dibangunkan bersama rakan kerjasama SC-Project turut menyumbang kepada peningkatan kuasa mendadak itu.

Pada masa sama, penggunaan komponen ringan (terutamanya gentian karbon) juga menyaksikan Aprilia RSV4 XTrenta hanyalah seberat 165kg.

Antara ciri unik lain ditawarkan termasuk,  IMU Magneti Marelli, panel butang Jetprime, suspensi Ohlins dan rim magnesium Marchesini M7R Genesi.

Sementara itu, brek pula dikendalikan kaliper monoblock Brembo GP4-MS yang dipadankan bersama cakera brek T-drive 330mm.

Menurut Aprilia, tempahan bagi RSV4 XTrenta ini boleh dibuat bermula Selasa (6 September) pada harga EUR50,000 (RM222,400). 

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Maverick Vinales has decided to race in next week Aragon GP with Aprilia Racing after just a two day testing with the RS-GP.

Vinales admitted he felt comfortable with the V4 machine despite spending most of his career in the world championship with a Japanese inline-four motorcycle.

“When I arrived, I felt tremendous pressure, and I was nervous because I had spent so much time on a different type of bike.

“I have always raced with 4-inline; I didn’t know how it would go.

“Instead, I was surprised by how easily I adapted to the engine. It was easy. The bike is very manageable, which is important for long races.

“I lapped in 1’32.4, which is not bad, the benchmark was Ducati, and we were close,” he said.

Many would have thought the Spanish rider would only feature with Aprilia next season. However, he suggests that the remaining race, starting with Aragon GP, is the best learning curve.

 

“Maybe I’m not ready yet; I still don’t feel like one with the bike. I was used to riding a completely different bike, but I think I will understand the bike even better at Aragon.

“Being with Aleix (Espargaro) will also help me because he is fast and I will be able to learn how this bike works quickly,” he added.

Aprilia telah pun mengesahkan bahawa bekas pelumba Yamaha, Maverick Vinales, akan membuat penampilan sulung bersama pasukan itu hujung bulan ini di Misano.

Vinales akan menunggang jentera RS-GP Aprilia dalam sesi ujian dua hari yang akan berlangsung pada 31 Ogos dan 1 September ini.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Aprilia, Massimo Rivola dalam satu kenyataan berkata, “Dari pandangan teknikal, amat mempersonakan untuk mendngar maklum balas pelumba yang menguji jenter baharu buat pertama kali.

“Terutamanya bagi sang juara seperti Maverick, yang kami rasa amat berbesar hati untuk menerimanya dalam keluarga Aprilia Racing.

“Dengan bakat dan kelajuan dimiliknya, kami tak sabar untuk bekerjasama,” jelasnya.

Difahamkan, ujian dua hari tersebut bakal menilai sama ada Vinales sudah bersedia untuk beraksi di GP Aragorn pada 12 September ini.

Bagaimanapun, dengan peluang uji jentera RS-GP diserahkan kepada Vinales, tidak dapat dipastikan apakah status seterusnya bagi Andrea Dovizioso, yang sebelum ini telah pun giat menguji jentera RS-GP bagi 2021.

There is finally light at the end of the tunnel for Maverick Vinales after what has been a controversial couple of weeks for the Spanish rider.

Aprilia Racing factory team has officially announced the 26-year-old as the team new rider for 2022, replacing Lorenzo Salvadori, who will continue with the team as a tester.

Vinales has signed an annual contract with an option for renewal.

*Aprilia RS-GP 2021

Aprilia, in an official statement by CEO, Massimo Rivola said, “We are extremely happy to announce that we have signed Maverick Viñales, a very high-level rider and one of the purest talents in the premier category.

“Our project has now been enriched with the value that Maverick brings – a World Champion who has confirmed his talent as a top rider in MotoGP.

“We are honoured to be able to make all of our best skills available to Viñales along with our enthusiasm and our passion. I am confident that, like Aleix, he will embrace this extremely high-potential project. The arrival of Maverick in no way distances Lorenzo Savadori from the team, as he will remain an integral part of the Aprilia Racing family.”

The announcement did not come as a surprise as the Italian outfit is the only relevant destination for the 2013 Moto3 world champion.

Vinales was suspended from last weekend action at the Austrian GP due to an irregular operation on the M1 a week earlier before apologising for failing to control his frustration.

Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether he will be allowed to return on the M1 at Silverstone.

Andrea Dovizioso got on the Aprilia RS-GP for the first time since his departure from Ducati at the end of last season.

It was a big day for the experienced rider who will push the RS-GP to the limit for a three-day private test in Jerez.

Although there is a lot of curiosity, the Italian will reserve his comments until the final day of testing.

Nonetheless, Aprilia gladly shared a few Dovizioso lap photos with the RS-GP clad in an all-black livery.

The Jerez test might just be focused on Dovizioso getting a feel of the bike, as the Noale-based company already booked a second test session in Mugello in the next few weeks.

There were also other familiar faces with Cal Crutchlow, Mika Kallio and Stefan Bradl joining Dovizioso in Jerez.

Meanwhile, it is not confirmed whether the Italian will remain as the team official test rider after the three-day testing in Jerez and Mugello.

Lorenzo Savadori will race in the upcoming MotoGP season, replacing Andrea Iannone, Aprilia has confirmed.

Savadori joins Aleix Espargaro as Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s riders on for 2021.

The announcement came as a surprise, with Aprilia opted for Savadori instead of the experienced Bradley Smith.

The RS-GP 20 seat was handed to the Briton last season in place of Iannone before Aprilia decided to give the spot to Savadori for the three remaining races.

“Well, it was a company decision.

“We decided to move a bit earlier than expecting all the tests to be done because it had a chain effect also on other people and the choice of other people in the team to develop the team was also very important.

“It’s true that Bradley has an experience and a characteristic that fits much more to being a test rider compared to Lorenzo, because Lorenzo has no experience.

“So, that was part of the choice,” explained Aprilia Racing CEO, Massimo Rivola.

The 2021 MotoGP official first test begins today in Qatar.

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