The Aprilia Racing Team has unveiled the 2023 line-up and bikes. In the MotoGP season that is about to begin, Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales will once again be astride the RS-GPs, both reconfirmed. Aleix Espargaró will resume the race for the World Championship after last year’s fourth place, with more than one regret. Aleix will be able to count both on the symbiosis with a team that has been following him since 2017 and on the experience and maturity built up in over 200 races in the MotoGP world championship. For Maverick Viñales, however, 2022 was a year of growth, 2023 presents itself as the year in which to achieve consistency at a high level. Also confirmed the tester Lorenzo Savadori.
On the technical front, the evolution of the Aprilia RS-GP concerns every single aspect. The V4 engine, which cannot be upgraded during the season after the loss of concessions, gains power and maximum rpm. The chassis features a revised frame based on the requests made by the riders, in search of traction and stability. The aerodynamics take the concepts introduced in 2022, such as the shaped side and the front wing configuration, and evolve them. In terms of electronics we see the introduction of a new Magneti Marelli ECU and refinement in the management of strategies.
Aleix Espargaró: “Being with Aprilia for a long time places a certain amount of pressure on me, because I know how important results are for this company. At the same time, maturity and the fact that I know the people I work with well give me peace of mind. The 2023 Championship is starting full of unknowns: the new format with the Sprint Race on Saturday will require us riders to be even better prepared but no one knows yet how to assess the real impact of the change. I prepared myself in the best possible way and, I’m sure, we will have fun again this year.” .
Maverick Vinales: “In 2022 I learned a lot: about Aprilia, about my team but also about myself. In this new season we will be able to put this learning to good use. I liked the new RS-GP right away, it has improved in aspects such as gas in the first opening, which are fundamental for my driving style. I like the new format of the weekend, it will be interesting for both the fans and the teams who will be able to prepare for Sunday’s race using the Sprint Race. I don’t see time to start, the break was refreshing but now I just want to get back on track!”.
Now the next round on the track will be the last ones two days of official MotoGP tests all’Algarve International Circuit di Portimao, in Portugal, which will take place this weekend (11 and 12 March). The first GP of the season will then take place on the same Portuguese track, on 25 and 26 March.
