The fireworks in the MotoGP paddock were thought to be over when the final pieces of the rider market fell into place. Instead, it was those in the market linked to technicians who provided a pyrotechnic finale during the Motegi weekend.
In particular, a change is coming to Aprilia that we could almost define as epochal. After 11 years (but he had been in the Piaggio Group for about twenty), in fact, Romano Albesiano left the leadership of the Noale racing department to take up the role of technical director at Honda. Instead, in Veneto, Fabiano Sterlacchini will arrive, former right-hand man of Gigi Dall’Igna at Ducati, who in the summer had decided to prematurely end the collaboration that began in 2021 with KTM, where he already held the role of technical director.
Inevitably, the CEO of Aprilia Racing, Massimo Rivola, was asked to retrace the steps that led to this unexpected turnaround, given that until yesterday practically no one had even hypothesized this possibility in the paddock.
“The Aprilia Racing project takes a step forward every year. We believe a lot in these changes. We welcome Sterlacchini. With two young riders, having new blood with experience in Ducati and KTM is an extra stimulus. We can’t help but thank Albesiano for what we have done in recent years. Let’s not forget that we managed to win with him in Argentina, the double in Barcelona the following year, the historic race for Vinales in Austin this year. At this point, we needed a shake-up and a step forward. So we took this opportunity”, explained Rivola to Sky Sport MotoGP.
Fabiano Sterlacchini, Technical Director, Aprilia Racing Team
Among other things, for Aprilia it will almost be like starting from scratch in 2025, because the entire line-up of the official team will also change, with the exit of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales, who will make way for world champion leader Jorge Martin and to Marco Bezzecchi.
“In this world here every now and then risks have to be taken. I don’t think that having drivers of that level is risky. I believe that a technician of absolute value is not risky. Perhaps the timing is, because you have very high expectations and at the beginning it will probably take a little bit, but it’s not an excuse. We have all the elements to continue our growth. We just have to finish these races in the best possible way for us, for Albesiano and above all for Aprilia Racing and for the Piaggio group.” .
When he was then asked why he decided to focus on Sterlacchini, Rivola explained: “Certainly when someone gains experience in other factories he brings with him baggage that we cannot have. At the same time, he cannot have ours. It can certainly be useful for opening up the vision of each of us and giving us new points of view. I can’t help but welcome it and be happy with the steps we are taking. Can it be a risk? I believe that the company is much more than the person; therefore, there is no ‘one man show’. In the end, the work must pay.”
In MotoGP there is no “gardening” concept that exists in Formula 1, so Sterlacchini will be working with Aprilia since the Valencia tests and the same will be true for Albesiano with Honda.
“We have to be quick, because as romantically difficult as it is to see Albesiano leave after 20 years in this group, at the same time we have to leave as soon as possible. So, from the Valencia tests we will see some new faces. Paolo Bonora and I will have to be good at keep the group more united right from the start, but I think that motivation is the thing that we won’t lack”, concluded Rivola.
Davide Brivio, Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO, Romano Albesiano
Photo credit: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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