What happens when a MotoGP factory team gets a huge injection of cash? You get a new engine, of course! Along with many other things, Aprilia has somewhat ‘revealed’ that they’ll be using a brand new V4 engine for the 2020 Aprilia RS-GP thanks to some monetary help from the parent company, Piaggio Group. (more…)
Musim 2019 mungkin tidak menghasilkan keputusan yang diharapkan Aprilia di pentas MotoGP namun itu tidak menghalang mereka untuk mengejar keputusan lebih baik bagi 2020.
Aprilia merupakan pasukan pertama untuk mendedahkan jentera baharu bagi ujian pra-musim.
Meskipun tidak mendedahkan spesifikasi terperinci namun Motorsportmagazine.com mendakwa Aprilia bakal mengikut langkah Ducati dan Honda dengan mengguna pakai enjin V4 90-darjah hasil suntikan kewangan oleh Piaggio Group.
Aprilia telah pun menggunakan enjin V4 75-darjah sejak 2016 namun mereka gagal mencerna kuasa yang diharapkan.
Honda turut melalui pergelutan sama di antara 2011 dan 2012 apabila membuat keputusan menukar enjin RC212V 800cc 75-darjah kepada RC213V 1000cc 90-darjah.
Enjin V4 90-darjah mampu menawarkan pembakaran lebih optimum sekaligus meningkatkan pecutan dan kuasa enjin. Pada masa sama, enjin ini juga rendah geseran dan lebih stabil tanpa perlunya bantuan syaf pengimbang.
Sementara itu, ketua jurutera Aprilia, Romano Albesiano, menjelaskan enjin baharu itu lebih lebar berbanding enjin lama.
“Enjin baharu ini menawarkan lebih banyak kuasa di samping kawalan brek enjin yang lebih efisien. Kami juga telah mereka semula enjin agar crankshaft lebih kompak.
“Jadi secara keseluruhan, ini sememangnya enjin serba baharu,” jelasnya.
(SUMBER: Motorsportmagazine.com)
Pelumba Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Andrea Iannone, telah digantung daripada segala aktiviti berkaitan sukan permotoran setelah gagal dalam ujian doping.
Menurut kenyataan FIM, Iannone gagal ujian doping setelah mendapati terdapat unsur penggunaan bahan terlarang jenis steroid.
Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) merupakan antara bahan terlarang yang terkandung dalam Senarai Bahan Terlarang 2019.
Sampel urin pelumba terbabit telah diambil ketika sesi ujian doping yang dijalankan Agensi Anti Doping Dunia (WADA) ketika di GP Malaysia, Litar Antarabangsa Sepang pada 3 November 2019.
Bagaimanapun, pelumba berusia 30 tahun itu masih dibenarkan untuk memohon membuat ujian sampel B.
Sekiranya keputusan ujian sampel B kekal positif, Iannone masih boleh membuat rayuan di Mahkamah Timbang Tara Sukan (CAS).
Kes gagal ujian doping bukan perkara baharu dalam dunia sukan, tatkala dua ikon negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei dan Sazali Samad masing-masing pernah digantung susulan gagal ujian doping sebelum ini.
Aprilia is on a roll. Besides the RS 660, Tuono 660 and updated RSV4 1100, they’ve added this Aprilia RS 250 SP.
It’s a purpose-built race bike which the manufacturer aims to find the next grand prix superstar.
The bike is the result of a collaboration between Aprilia and Ohvale.
It’s fitted with the right high performance bits such as 17-inch wheels that will fit Pirelli race tyres, Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension, SC Project race exhaust, among others.
The engine is sourced from Aprilia, while Ohvale will be in charge of production.
As promised, the Aprilia RS 250 SP will be the star of the Italian FMI Aprilia Sport Production Championship. The single-make series will run through six rounds in 2020, and Aprilia hopes to find the next Capirossi, Biaggi or Rossi.
“The new championship takes up a tradition that makes Aprilia unique, a brand that has taken generations of young people onto the track and that has raised up great champions,” said Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing.
“From 2020, thanks to the partnership with the Federation, we will once again be providing fun for young people who, in this championship, will find a way to make their dreams come true and perhaps, this is our wish, the start of a path in the world of competitive motorcycling.”
“This is why we have designed an easy bike and formula that will attract the highest number of young people to competitive motorcycling.”
Tak cukup dengan mendedahkan RS660 di EICMA 2019, Aprilia turut bertindak menayangkan buat julung kalinya jentera konsep Tuono 660!
Mengguna pakai enjin sama yang terdapat pada RS660, Tuono 660 menghasilkan 95hp – kurang 5hp daripada RS660.
Bukan itu sahaja, Aprilia turut mendedahkan versi 46hp turut bakal diperkenalkan tahun depan!
Tuono 660 turut dilengkapi dengan pelbagai ciri elektronik terkini seperti yang didapati pada RS660 antaranya:
Dijangkakan Aprilia Tuono 660 akan diperkenalkan ke pasaran dunia pada 2021.
Selepas bertahun penantian, Aprilia akhirnya mendedahkan RS 660 – jentera parallel twin – di EICMA 2019 yang dijamin akan mengembalikan seri dalam dunia sportbike segmen middleweight.
Jurutera Aprilia telah mengambil bahagian depan daripada enjin RSV4 1100cc untuk menghasilkan nadi yang menjana lebih 100hp namun maklumat mengenai rpm dan tork tidak didedahkan.
Tidak seperti jentera ‘middleweight’ lain, RS 660 didatangkan dengan pelbagai sistem terkini antaranya:
Menariknya, Aprilia RS 660 turut didatangkan dengan sistem cruise control secara standard, ciri yang luar biasa bagi sebuah sportbike middleweight.
Aprilia RS 660 2020 didatangkan dengan dua warna pilihan, ungu dan merah bagi meraikan Reggiana Replica RS 250 1994 dan hitam.
Jentera baharu ini dijangka akan memasuki pasaran dunia pertengahan tahun depan.
Just after the Aprilia RS 660 launch at EICMA 2019 got us wiping our lips, the 2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 concept had us foaming from our mouths.
The Tuono naked sportbike range has always been based on the RSV superbike’s platform. As what the manufacturer had said before, the RS 660 will be the platform for other models.
However, the Tuono V4’s engine has always been tuned for torque (make that insane torque) compared to the RSV4’s. In this case, the Tuono 660’s powerplant is expected to produce 95 bhp, 5 bhp down from the RS 660. 95 bhp doesn’t exactly make a slow bike, but its torque should make it even thrilling to ride.
The Tuono 660 will feature the APRC electronics package, as well. Just like its fully-faired brother, there’s a six-axis IMU-based traction control, ABS, engine brake control. Wheelie control? Should we want that on a Tuono?
Given that the production RS 660 looks almost identical to its concept, the Tuono 660 should look very close to the concept, too. We’re hoping that the cluster of LED-lights are carried into production.
You can also see the aerobody on the fairing’s side panel, which provides downforce, pushes wind around the rider as well as channel engine heat away from the rider’s legs.
Only problem is we have to wait until 2021.
One of the most highly-anticipated bikes, the 2020 Aprilia RS 660, breaks cover at EICMA 2019.
It’s been a full year of waiting for the new middleweight to show, and we can say that it was worth it. Because it will set the class on fire, judging from the spec sheets, just as Aprilia had touted.
Let’s begin with the 660cc parallel-Twin. Based on the RSV4 superbike with only two front cylinders, it will produce 100 bhp. That’s unprecedented for a road going two-cylinder sub-700cc bike. Factor in a dry weight of only 168 kg and you have the class-leading power-to-weight ratio.
The engine shares the RSV4’s architecture, and uses a 270-degree crank to mimic the firing order of a 90-degree V-Twin. The format provides good low-end torque with linear power delivery.
But it isn’t just a powerful engine in a light bike. Aprilia also endowed the RS 660 with their signature APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) electronics suite, fortified with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). This gives the bike cornering ABS, lean-angle-sensitive traction control, wheelie control, among others. It’s also equipped with a bi-directional quickshifter, cruise control and power modes.
Aprilia touted that the bike will have “active aerodynamics.” Hence the RSV4 fairing design, which provides extra downforce at speed. We feel that the production bike actually looks better than the prototype revealed at last year’s EICMA.
The chassis uses the engine as a fully-stressed member with the swingarm’s pivot located at the back of the crankcase. Front forks are Kayaba although there isn’t word on the rear shock. Braking duty is handled by Brembo brakes front and back.
Lighting is fully-LED including daytime running lights (DRL). A 5-inch TFT instrument panel provides multimedia connectivity.
A notable feature is the classic purple and red paint scheme.
We’ll keep you informed on when it’ll arrive and cost in Malaysia. Fingers crossed that it’s in a reasonable bracket.
Motorcycle Grand Prix racing was never, isn’t and will ever be easy. Just ask Aprilia Racing Team Gresini.
The now infamous Italian motorcycle brand exploded into motorcycling history and became a household name through their passion for motorsports. It’s safe to say that many don’t know that Aprilia was founded immediately after World War 2 in 1945 when they built bicycles until 1968 when the founder’s son Ivano Beggio took over.
Their winning tradition began in 1977 with the 125cc and 250cc Italian motocross titles. They ventured in Grand Prix racing in 1985 and won their first 125cc race in 1991. Aprilia won the riders’ championship title the very next year and began their dominance in 125cc and 250cc GP racing. Starting from 1992 and ending in 2011, the manufacturer netted ten 125cc and nine 250cc riders’ titles. They had also won as many constructor’s (manufacturer’s) championships during that time.
Aprilia then ventured into 500cc GP racing with a two-stroke, three-cylinder bike but met little success.
But they did achieve great success in World Superbike racing when Max Biaggi won the 2010 and 2012 titles, while Sylvain Guintoli added another in 2014. They also won the manufacturers’ titles in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Aprilia rejoined the premiere class now called MotoGP in 2012 in the Claiming Rules Team (CRT) class by supplying modified SBK-spec RSV4 engines to the ART team. They were the best CRT team in 2012 and 2013.
Aprilia began their full factory effort in 2015 under the name of Aprilia Racing Team Gresini with the 1000cc V-Four RS-GP.
With such a storied past in motorsports, you’d think Aprilia would return to challenging the front end of the pack within a couple of seasons. Such aspirations have borne fruits lately, but not yet with consistency.
But it also shows just how tough MotoGP is. It’s not that bikes in mid-pack and the tail end of the field did not progress, instead everyone else also progressed at the same time. It’s all relative.
Looking at the points tally, the 2019 season is Aprilia’s best season so far.
Leading up to the 2019 Shell Malaysia MotoGP, Aleix Espargaro scored a total of 44 points and finished 17th in 2018. He has collected 53 points in 17 races and currently lies in 14th with two races to go this year.
Espargaro’s 2018 teammate Scott Redding picked up 20 points and finished in 21st. His current teammate, Andrea Iannone now has 43 points and standing in 16th with two races remaining.
In the constructor’s championship, Aprilia ended 6th and last with 59 points in 2018. Conversely, they’ve collected 78 points thus far in 2019.
The results certainly point to improvements. Espargaro finished 4th in Philip Island before heading to Malaysia.
Anyway, thanks to Aprilia Malaysia and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, we were granted a short visit to the team’s pit just as FP3 was about to begin.
MotoGP teams now hoard up even the rear entrance to their pits, so outsiders could only see the respective team’s name and logo. Aprilia brand ambassador Max Biaggi was hanging outside with a couple of mechanics.
We were met by a large and burly man who looked like one of the guys from ZZ Top. He had told us to not shoot pictures of the bikes if the fairing was off, and to not shove a camera in the riders’ faces. Fair enough. Those close ups of bikes and riders from the front were shot with telephoto lenses from the pitlane and wall.
The hoarding also covered the back-end operations part of the paddock. Where we used to be able to see a row of guys crunching data on their laptops, engines, parts and such but it’s all covered up npw, leaving a narrow corridor to the front where the bikes and riders are. Even the rows of tyres being warmed up were hidden away.
We stopped in a small area cordoned off from the rest of the pit. Up in front were the two RS-GP bikes — Iannone’s to the left and Espargaro’s to the right. Right behind them were low racks where sets of carbon brake discs and Brembo front brake calipers sat.
A few mechanics were working feverishly on the bikes, readying them for the riders. Just then, Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola walked in, hair neatly styled in place and headphones in his hands. He had joined Aprilia from the Ferrari Formula 1 team this year.
A mechanic walked to Iannone’s bike with the starter. The bike started up with an explosion. I fully expected the sudden explosion of noise (having experienced them all the time), but the other two guys (Aprilia owners) didn’t and they actually jumped with fright.
Iannone walked a few paces to the machine and blasted away from the paddock, as other bikes also passed by, serenading us with their thundering soundtracks.
I noticed that the current RS-GP definitely has a much more aggressive exhaust note, compared to when Aprilia began racing in the MotoGP class. The engine back then was based on Aprilia RSV4 road bike, while the full-race engine was installed three years ago.
Now they fired up Espargaro’s bike to another explosion. The two guys jumped again.
Just like Iannone, Esparago looked as if he ran toward the RS-GP and lunged at it. With a blip of the throttle he was gone leaving behind a roar that reverberated through the paddock.
With their work done, the mechanics joined Rivola and Biaggi, and craned their necks upwards to watch the proceedings on two monitors embedded in a makeshift arch.
The mechanics’ body languages belie their anxiety. One bit his fingernails, another swung his upper body side to side, a few jacked themselves up and down like they needed to run to the bathroom. Yet, Rivola was the island of calm in the middle of all this.
On the screen Espargaro was visibly uncomfortable and struggling on his bike. Indeed, he blasted back into the paddock a lap later, again surprising the two guys next to me. The rider was agitated and didn’t hide his displeasure, gesturing plaintively and we could hear his loud, muffled complaining through the helmet.
His bike was pushed backwards into the paddock. Mechanics jumped into action immediately, pulling both tyres off. Two minutes later, the bike was wearing shiny new tyres. Indeed, Espargaro would later complain to the media about lack of grip from used tyres.
Off he went again and the mechanics returned to their nervous ticks.
A murmur went up when Espargaro was 10th fastest. If he kept this position, it would be an automatic admission to Q2. The nervous ticks increased. But just as the flag came down, he was pushed down to 11th by just 0.029 second from Cal Crutchlow.
The team went “Aaarghhhhhhh.” But Rivola was still cool, a finger tapped his pursed lips.
Andrea Iannone meanwhile, managed on 18th fastest.
Both bikes entered the pit in quick succession and the roller shutter was dropped. It signalled that it was the time for us to get out.
It’s too bad that we couldn’t take more pictures. But it was a great experience for the two Aprilia owners as they whooped and cheered when we left.
Espargaro would go on to finish the race in 13th place, while Iannone crashed out on Lap 10.
Lget’s hope Aprilia progresses further up the field next year. They may just do that, given their proud racing heritage.
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory akhirnya didedahkan kepada orang ramai yang hadir ke Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC), hari ini.
Bagi yang mengikuti perkembangan Aprilia, Tuono sememangnya dikenali sebagai ikon bagi segmen ‘supernaked’ sebelum lahirnya beberapa jentera lain yang cuba untuk berselisih bahu dengan motosikal ikonik ini.
Tuono merupakan jentera yang paling tepat untuk menyajikan prestasi sebuah jentera V4 dengan tork tinggi.
Membuat kemunculan dengan enjin yang diambil daripada RSV4 1100 Factory, Tuono V4 1100 Factory menjana 175hp pada 11,000rpm dan 121 Nm pada 9,000rpm!
Pengalaman tunggangan turut dipertingkat dengan Aprilia Performance Riding Control (APRC) yang meliputi:
Menurut Aprilia, Tuono V4 1100 Factory merupakan versi yang eksklusif jadi tidak hairanlah segala teknologi yang sistem telah dipinjamkan daripada jentera superbike Aprilia RSV4 RF.
Menariknya, sistem penyerap hentakan terhasil melalui kerjasama di antara Aprilia dan Ohlins bagi memastikan pengalaman tunggangan berada di tahap tertinggi yang boleh diakses menerusi sistem SMART EC 2.0 yang terdapat pada paparan TFT 4.3 inci.
Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory boleh didapati dalam dua warna, Sachsenring red dan Magny-Cours grey dan ditawarkan pada harga RM119,000.
Orang ramai yang berminat untuk menyaksikan jentera ini dengan lebih dekat boleh menghadiri tapak Aprilia di SIC.
As promised, Aprilia Malaysia unveiled the 2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory at their booth at the 2019 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix today.
The Aprilia Tuono has always basked in the reputation as one of the original supernaked sportbike. In fact, a new name has been coined, called “hypernaked.” It provides pure 4-Four perfromance: Mountain-high torque, a soul-piercing V-Four soundtrack and handling that’ll make other bikes cry.
Aprilia was one of the first manufacturers to incorporate a holistic approach to traction control in their APRC (Aprilia Performance Riding Control) electronics suite. In fact, it was Aprilia who first introduced a gyro-controlled anti-wheelie and rear-wheel lift mitigation way before IMU-based technology became a common place.
For the 2019 Tuono V4 1100 Factory, it remains unchanged as Aprilia deemed that it was the best in the class, already.
Functions include Aprilia Traction Control (ATC), Aprilia Wheelie Control (AWC), Aprilia Launch Control (ALC), Aprilia Quickshift (AQS), Aprilia Pit Limiter (APL), Aprilia Cruise Control (ACC).
Of course, the bike is equipped with cornering ABS, but of the advanced multimap variety. Developed with Bosch, the 9.1MP system monitors everything from motorcycle lean angle to how much lever pressure is applied and how it is being applied, to determine the best braking solution even when cranked gruesomely over into a corner. The Cornering ABS function also works in tandem with the selected ride mode.
Now over to the engine. As in engine power.
There are much more to the 2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory that will take an entire article to explore. You can view the bike at Aprilia Malaysia’s booth at SIC.
The bike is priced from RM 119,900.
Multiple Grand Prix and World Superbike champion Max Biaggi says he would ride the Aprilia Tuono if he lived in Kuala Lumpur.
Aprilia Malaysia hosted multiple Grand Prix and World Superbike champion and Aprilia brand ambassador Max Biaggi tonight for a meet and greet session with Aprilia owners and fans. The event was held in conjunction with the 2019 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, which begins tomorrow.
Held at The Beach Club, Kuala Lumpur, the event was attended in masse by the Aprilia Central Riding Club (ACRC) who organised a convoy there. They were rewarded with Q&A, autograph and photography sessions with the GP great and WorldSBK legend.
BikesRepublic.com and our sister site, MotoMalaya.net was given an exclusive interview with the GP legend and also the new Aprilia Racing Team CEO Massimo Rivola.
We spoke about Aprilia and the factory’s effort in MotoGP, plus other things, but also we felt that there ought to be a connection from the Aprilia track bike to the road bikes.
Here’s the transcript of the interview:
BikesRepublic.com (BR): You’ve been to Malaysia many times. How often do you visit the country nowadays?
Max Biaggi (MB): I normally only visit once every year. In the past it was two, three times a year because also we did Winter Tests.
BR: What do you think about the country?
MB: It’s cool, you know. It’s one of my favourites since when we were racing in Shah Alam (the Batu Tiga Circuit) a long time ago. It was really, really one of my favourite places.
Even Sepang (International Circuit) which is a much bigger track, it’s a nice place to be.
BR: How has Malaysia changed, in your opinion?
MB: Big difference. Motorsports has really stepped up. I remember 24 years ago, there were no more than 20,000 to 30,000 people watching. But now, the weekend last year was over 100,000. I know there’s a big investment in motorsports and you can see the results now.
BR: Do you come here for holidays?
MB: No, normally for racing activities in January or February to work with Aprilia Malaysia.
BR: How has 2019 for you with your venture into Moto3 (race team)?
MB: This is another part of my life. To be on top of this thing (running a Moto3 team), the first time in the World Championship was very new for me. But I have good people and I can work with them, and we have one of the best riders in Moto3. So, we have an excellent year one. We didn’t win the title, but I didn’t expect that, really. But I see good performances for the rider and team so I’m looking forward to 2020.
BR: If you could’ve done anything differently, what would it be, since it’s the end of the season?
MB: It’s difficult to change something when the thing’s already done. A few changes here and there but nothing really big. Next year will be two riders and again a new story. We’ll see.
BR: We have one very important question — some of our readers are curious to know. If you were living KL (Kuala Lumpur), what motorcycle would you ride?
MB: Whoa, very difficult question! Here I don’t see big bikes very often. Maybe (I’ll ride a scooter). Scooters can be one of the possibilities (the Piaggio group produces many models of scooters – Editor).
But maybe the future here would change and become more like European cities. So, big scooter, big size motorcycles.
BR: If you could choose just one model?
MB: If it was up to me here in KL, I would use the Tuono (Aprilia Tuono V4). It’s because the handlebars are higher, straighter riding position, easier to ride, nice torque. This would be my favourite.
BR: Since you’re not riding competitive anymore? Do you still ride as a leisure activity?
MB: Yes, I use the Aprilia RSV4 X. Aprilia only produced 10 of them. It’s one of the most fun bike to ride — it was the closest to the RSV4 World Superbike but you can use it. When it ride the bike, I ride it only on the track because that’s what I like the most.
BR: Most professional competitive riders don’t ride on the road but they are really fast on the track. Why do you think it’s so?
MB: Maybe it’s because when you became a pro rider, you know the street is not that safe and safety is important. The track has a permanent track, you know the people who you are riding with. Of course it’s nice to travel on a bike. I would use the bike to go travelling far away.
BR: Compared to when you were racing 20 years ago, how has motorsports changed?
MB: Big changes. Here we are it’s gone from two-strokes to four-strokes and bigger bikes, and now the world of electronics. A lot is controlled by electronics. A good electronic system can make difference performance from one bike to the other. The lean angle now is near 70 degrees (from vertical) which 20 years ago you cannot imagine going near that far. But it nice, they do a lot of trick. New riders, new technique but you can always see the same speeds. They compete for the title but are very close.
BR: So, riding has changed and not just the bikes?
MB: Riding style has definitely changed and it’s changed in a good way because they can go faster. If they used the old style, they couldn’t. Also the tyres have changed. Everything’s changed.
BR: A question for (Massimo) Mr. Rivola. How has 2019 been in your opinion?
Massimo Rivola (MR): 2019 has been an interesting year. Really challenging. But I have to say overall it’s a positive year. The good thing that I can say for sure is that I feel a lot of respect for Aprilia. I feel that more and more the respect is increasing.
The history of Aprilia is quite unique and nobody has our history. Thanks to Max, in fact. There’s a hope that our history can come back. My mission is that one, actually.
BR: Coming to Malaysia from four wheels to two wheels (racing), is it the same or is it different… How do you experience Malaysia differently?
MR: My first time in Malaysia was in 2000. It was when the new track was open for Formula 1 racing. In the beginning at the Sepang track the grandstand was not fully occupied and that now, yes. The spirit around MotoGP is even more passionate than Formula 1.
I think motorbikes are closer to spectators and public. The spirit is different. Formula 1 and MotoGP are different but the latter is more special from this point of view.
BR: Maybe it’s because Malaysians love their motorcycles more than their cars?
MB: Yeah maybe almost everybody here rides a scooter or moped or motorbike, but yes it’s something you can see the riders on the bikes up close.
BR: One last question for Max. We are now seeing many riders in Malaysia. Is there any advice that you can give to our riders — those who are casual riders (not racers)?
MB: You can more and more people using bikes in this part of the world than 20 years ago. I see many people come to MotoGP so they passion for the sport. I hope to see them riding big bikes in a few years because this is the way to go up. In Europe and America the bikes are 600cc, 1000cc. They need to try these bikes. If they try they will surely like.
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