by Franco Nugnes
The Aprilia RS-GP 2021 had already made its debut on the track at the tests in Jerez de la Frontera, where it was the fastest on three days in February, Aleix Espargaro runs better than the one driven by KTM Daniel Pedrosa.
The Noale manufacturer has given a foretaste of its ambitions in MotoGP: They want to give up the role of Cinderella in the premier class and, despite the tightest budget (not even one), they want to get closer to the other manufacturers – fifth of what Honda spends every year , that’s 100 million euros!).
The Aprilia RS-GP 2021 was presented in the Losail pit lane: It’s an entirely new motorcycle that is a clear break with the MotoGP machine that rode last year. Being the only team still enjoying concessions, Aprilia Racing has decided to launch the counterattack, trying to take advantage of the restrictions imposed on other manufacturers and presenting a two-wheeler that is very different from its predecessor .
Team boss Massimo Rivola can affect the work of employees under the direction of. leaving Romano Albesiano. Major improvements have influenced every aspect of the Aprilia RS-GP 2021: chassis, aerodynamics and engine.
Last year’s experience had already given Noale’s ambitions a clear direction, but the Covid pandemic had blocked planned developments at the Veneto plant. It is therefore not surprising that Aprilia did a double somersault over the winter with a total about-face in terms of orientation and philosophy.
It must be said that the new matte black paint job is already eye-catching and gives the bike a bold look, but beautiful colors don’t lead to performance. So let’s start with the engine having a completely new cylinder head that introduces an innovative concept that will be developed later.
In the meantime, the 4 cylinder 90 degree V unit that Luca Marmorini, a former Ferrari engineer, was involved in, benefits from a significant weight loss compared to its toughest competitors, which makes the bike more agile during transitions, as well as from an increase in performance over the entire operating curve and not just at top speed.
Everything else has been thought of around the engine: The frame is a traditional aluminum frame that uses carbon parts in the engine mounts in search of more rigidity. In addition, the rider sits in a new, more central position in the saddle, which favors the shift in mass and increases aerodynamic efficiency.
Marco De Luca, head of the RS-GP project 2021, paid particular attention to reducing drag and fluid dynamics within the fairing. with the clear intention of reducing the radiating mass through easier heat dissipation from the 4-cylinder unit.
The aerodynamics developed in the Toyota wind tunnel in Cologne, are not only defined by the front wing, which made the MotoGP bike of last year immediately recognizable, because further interventions were made on the winglets to increase downforce and in particular to reduce the wheelie effect when accelerating, which intervenes in the control electronics less invasive with anti-wheelie.
The new carbon swingarm stands out at the back, another leap in quality that is not only geared towards lightness. The geometry of the suspension has changed, which allows for a more extreme packaging: at the 2021 RS-GP, great efforts were made to make better use of the Michelin tires, in the hope that they would work in the correct window of use to stabilize their behavior over the entire arch , without great loss of performance with increased wear.
Like Ducati, Aprilia also has a system that folds the rear suspension not only during launch control. The holeshot is a mechanical device that was already introduced in Noale at the end of last season: the one mounted on the 2021 RS-GP is a further developed version that can open up new developments in the solution to get to a real trim adjuster.
The rather conspicuous rear is also new and this gives the impression that it can accommodate a mass damper for the vibrations. like on the Desmosedici. In short, in Noale, despite their limited resources, they want to raise the bar with a pinch of legitimate ambition.
To discover the real limit of the bike would also require a top rider to help the team grow faster, but for now the team has to make do with the qualities of Aleix Espargarò. Next to the Granollers will be the driver Lorenzo Savadori who has the opportunity to take part in his first full MotoGP season. One step at a time …