8 February 2024 - The work of the Aprilia Racing department during the winter has been relentless, and in the first 2024 test in Malaysia the results were seen. The new RS-GP amazed, especially with a once again innovative aerodynamic study.
Aprilia Racing test rider Lorenzo Savadori (RS-GP bike no. 32) engaged at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit in Sepang (Malaysia) for the Shakedown MotoGP Official Test (1-3 February 2024).
After the shakedown completed by test rider Lorenzo Savadori, Aleix and Maverick had the chance to start working on the new bike during the three days just concluded (Sepang MotoGp Official Test, 6-8 February 2024). A first contact that still showed encouraging signs: there is still to adapt the characteristics of the bike to the style of each rider, but the potential was judged unanimously high.
Now MotoGP will move to Qatar for the last test session, scheduled for February 19 and 20, before officially starting (on the same track) the new season.
ALEIX ESPARGARO' (bike no. 41): “I am satisfied with this first test. If we look at the improvement from last year, I don't think anyone has grown as much as we have. I love the character of the new RS-GP, it allows me to be even faster in cornering and that goes along with my riding style.
It is also more stable, albeit a bit more challenging, but there is still a lot of work to be done. We've seen very fast riders and bikes, with incredible fast lap performance as well as great pace: we're at a good level but it's still not enough.”
MAVERICK VIÑALES (bike no.12): “It was an intense three days, but I would like three more! The new RS-GP definitely has potential, in Aprilia they worked a lot during the winter. At the end of last year I had reached a very high level, especially in corner entry, a feeling that I lack for now.
It's just a matter of trying new settings, a different balance, to exploit the strengths of the new design as we did in '23. We still have testing in Qatar to get us ready for the first race, right now I would say we are halfway through the process.”
2024 MOTOGP CALENDAR:
www.motogp.com/en/calendar
