Aprilia Tests New Engine - More Power For The Title?
Categories: MotoGP
With one win and five podium finishes the Aprilia RS-GP is the biggest surprise of the 2022 season. Now Aprilia wants to step up and test a new engine for Aleix Espargaro’s title fight.
Until last year, the RS-GP looked like the ugly duckling of the grid, but by winter testing it was clear that they would play a starring role in the new MotoGP season.
To consolidate its role in the Top 3 of the championship, the Italian manufacturer will try to make a new version of its V4 engine available to its riders. The new specification has already been tested by Lorenzo Savadori in Assen.
Aprilia had activated its test rider on a wildcard for the Dutch GP – Image provided by Motorsport Images
As Paolo Bonora, team director at Aprilia, told MotoGP.com: “[Lorenzo] used a new specification compared to the current one. After the Misano tests we will think about using it in the race.”
However, the development on the new specification seems to be in its early stages. Bonora reminds that “first, [Aprilia] have to understand the problem behind a minor reliability issue.”
Despite that, the new engine specification could bring more power for the the Aprilia riders. This should help Aleix Espargaro in the fight for the rider’s championship against Fabio Quartararo.
In Assen, the Spaniard put on a beautiful show to come back from 15th position after an incident with his title rival. Esparfgaro finished the race in P4 and is just 21 points behind current world champion Quartararo.