The Italian brand took its most decisive step towards the top positions of MotoGP in 2021, taking advantage of the possibility of being the only manufacturer authorized to build a completely new motorcycle in the midst of the blockade of developments imposed by COVID.
Aleix Espargaro proved he can place himself consistently in the top eight positions and scored Aprilia’s first MotoGP podium when he finished third in the British Grand Prix.
The Spaniard finished the World Championship in eighth place in the standings, with 120 points to his credit. “It has definitely been a good season compared to the past,” Rivola said at the end of the 2021 season.
“We really want to fight in 2022. First of all, we will be a factory team, but if we look at our progress over the last three years, we hope that 2022 will confirm this growth and allow us to close the gap with the best. But we are still back, so there is a long way to go. “
Behind the scenes, however, the Aprilia season had its difficulties. Above all, the death of Fausto Gresini – whose structure managed the RS-GPs from 2015 to 2021 – occurred in February.
Even before that, Aprilia was left with few options available for its second bike, after Andrea Iannone’s doping ban was tightened to four years, with several MotoGP riders, including Andrea Dovizioso, but also Moto2 , who refused to join the team.
Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing Team
Photo by: Dorna
There was therefore a great opportunity for Lorenzo Savadori, who however was replaced starting from the Aragon Grand Prix, when Maverick Viñales he arrived in Noale after the troubled break with Yamaha.
The Roses rider took eighth place in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as best result, but only placed points twice as he tried to adapt to the RS-GP.
However, Rivola remains convinced that Aprilia will be able to get the most out of the Spaniard in the 2022 season.
“The approach we had with Maverick was to use racing as a test, then try out different parts and set-up configurations to figure out what’s best for him,” he added.
“In this way we sacrificed the results of the races, and a little bit also his confidence, which has become a bit more difficult to build”.
“But I am sure that in Maverick we have a super talent and I am convinced that we will find a way to match that best with our resources,” he concluded.
Maverick Vinales, Aprilia Racing Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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