An unforgettable day on the track
For someone like me, passionate about engines, MotoGP, the track, which is one of the dreams recurring? Maybe spend a whole day with track from world championship available, riding one of the motorcycles faster and more desired on the world scene, like the RSV4 1100 Factory, and be supported by real riders, those admired by millions and what made the history of motorcycling? Maybe… A bit like receiving an assist from Roberto Baggiofor a football fan, or meet again Rafael Nadal beyond the net, for a tennis lover, or trying to chase Fernando Alonso in Imola, for an F1 lover.
Well I found that this is possible thanks to the Pro Experience Aprilia, one of those events that fully strike the soul and passion of the motorcyclist, bringing him to fulfill a dream which, in other professional sports, is truly unthinkable.
And we are here, invited by Aprilia to talk about what has been a moment full of emotionsstarted from the previous day’s party that has raised greatly the adrenaline levels in my body, at the sight of many passionate of the Italian brand, arrived in the Misano paddock to admire theirs Job, protagonists of a thousand track activity.
But let’s start from the beginning:
Sunday 28 May, I cross the mythical entrance to the circuit dedicated to Marco Simoncelli where can I find thehospitality Aprilia MotoGPready to welcome me with great organization and attention for the people present (which in reality are few, given that a maximum of 4 pilots each coach/instructor).
Coffee, signing of documentation, technical briefing e all seated: the pilots arrive.
Max Biaggi, Lorenzo Savadori and Matteo Baiocco present the program to us, underlining how much we are lucky to be here charging us big time for what’s coming soon.
The day foresees six rounds of 20 minutes each: in the first, of initial alignment, the organizer Special Bike will evaluate the speed level of those present and then be able to do it divide into homogeneous groups. Subsequently another 5 complete shifts, during which we will have the task of chasing the Aprilia champion and, in turn, being chased by an instructor of the Riding Academy Aprilia who will film our deeds on the track with an action cam.
Come on, let’s go!
We wear the leather clothes suited to the event, in the box, set up as a dressing room: there is a grave silence among the participants: that mixture of adrenaline, fearbutterflies in the stomach and joy to be in that place, in that moment.
In in the pit lane instructors, video makers, track managers are all ready. They give us the latest instructions and everyone takes to the track: let’s figure it out what will my group be.
I observe carefully the eyes of the participants from their visors, in the ears only the sound of 4-cylinder “V” Aprilia: they are exactly the eyes of the children who are about to enter their favorite playground. Green lightfinally we are in the middle of the curbs.
ll verdict of the first round sees an inscription: “Angelo Acosta (Moto.it) – red band – fast group” and Max Biaggi as our coach: Very good! In the box there are great I smiledthere is a joke about how much we will have to welding to keep up with the Roman bishop, but we are ready, we enter with Max.
The sensations that I feel as I start into the entry lane of the Misano World Circuit are so many: I think that in front of them is that rider from the poster in my room, I still remember it like it was yesterday: him riding theAprilia RS250 blackbranded Chesterfield and that written “MAX” colored on the bottom which, now, I’m reading with my own eyes a few meters away from my motorbike, emotion forte!
He has one clean drivebrush the lines on the Misano asphalt with grande precision; she shows me where I have to put the wheels, where I have to accelerate and brake and so I get busy and I attack as much as possible to his slick dinghy Pirelli Superbike SC3 rear. He feels that I am close to him and pick up the pace, I’m riding with Max Biaggi on the track and he signals me that it’s okay. Wow, I still can’t believe it now! He returns to the pits.
We all sit in front of the screen and Max, sitting next to me, analyze my lap on the track; he is concentrated, he observes and comments with the instructors my position on the saddle, the lines, the trajectories, the braking and acceleration points. He looks at me and says: “GO WELL, good boy. We need to improve the position on the saddle in some corners, work on some details, but we see that the you know the track and you did well”
Max Biaggi has just judged my guide, it went well and I’m happy! Now yes, I can enter the “Bar del Passo”proud of the declarations just given by the multiple world champion.
The day goes on, the weather is perfectI catch smiles and words from the participants: they are all excited and enjoy their day to the fullest.
We need to get back on track and this time it’s the turn by Lorenzo Savadori as coach: I immediately notice one more “modern” guidemore from the elbow to the ground to be clear, with different lines, more angular than Max and I remain surprised: the speed with which they go down the corner and downshift in braking is embarrassing. Capturing these details while smelling the exhaust gas is an experience unforgettable.
Every round we have to take turns with the colleague on duty, so that everyone can stay behind the coach; I join the group e suddenly I feel a close presence close to my rear wheel, too close, in detached someone removes the stickers from my RSV4 getting in front of me and tackling the first variant of the Park, but who is it? I recognize the initials on the helmet, nothing less than that Massimo Rivola: I’m a little tired after several laps in that session, but I want to see how theCEO from the Aprilia racing department and I follow him: go strong! He has so much fun, he makes his bike move in braking and fold with angles that I did not expect: what I’m experiencing right now surprised me, but I immediately understand how important that gesture can be: passion helps to improve our daily work and he proves he has a lot of it: congratulations Max!
Max thinks Pedro Acosta is my cousin
6 rounds in total, 120 minutes overall in which I experienced awonderful experience: I chased the champions on one creepy bikeI had some driving tips put into practice immediately, I have improved some of my flaws on the track , I have excitedI did the “Curvone” with all the gas in my right wrist, I screamed, enjoyed, in short: one of those days you wish would never end.
Once terminate the sessions on the track, a refreshment awaits us at thehospitality Aprilia with pilots and organization ready to reward all the participants, who took home a autographed diploma, a seal of the day that everyone will remember forever.
Max jokes on my surname: “ah you’re Acosta, like Pedro, that’s why you go like this…” everyone laughs while they take a souvenir photo of us which I will put in the album of best memories as a motorcyclist and sports journalist.
Now all that remains is to wait for the next stop of the Pro Experience, after Portimao and Misano, which you too can experience by following the site of the Aprilia Pro Experience event and setting aside a amount of €2,500, which will guarantee you everything you have read in these lines and seen in the video.
I can confirm that there are none money better spent than those who leave an indelible memory and experience in our lives: like this one!
