Aprilia Racing boss Massimo Rivola anticipates his team will turn his first podium of the modern MotoGP era into regular podiums and wins, with a full attack on the title envisaged for 2023.
The Italian company finally ended its long wait for a MotoGP podium with Aleix Espargaro’s grim third place in the British MotoGP at Silverstone, the first result in the series since 2000 under the banner of the 500GP.
However, Rivola anticipates the silver will pile up quickly now, especially with the inclusion of ex-Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales in the roster for Aragon’s upcoming MotoGP, and he’s aiming for a run for the title as early as 2023.
“In 2023, why not?” Rivola told MotoGP.com. “It’s early for 2022. We still have to get used to the fight and consistently stay in the positions that count.
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“Aleix defeated Miller in Silverstone in the last few laps, that was remarkable, it was good and also justified for us to get on the podium, we deserved it.”
Originally signed from 2022, Vinales’ bitter exit from Yamaha in August brought it forward to next week’s Spanish event.
Although the eight-time race winner has something to prove after being fired from Yamaha for seemingly trying to deliberately break his M1 engine by over-revving it, Rivola has no doubt that he will move the team further forward.
“If Maverick found his passion after just one day of testing, it means it wasn’t too hidden. As we know, he’s a very sensitive guy. I understand his words about the joy of having fun again At first everything is always very nice.
“It adapted to the bike surprisingly, instead we had some question marks. The approach was also extraordinary, I can only consider the decision to leave the Aleix bike unchanged as a lucky one. “