Here's Why Massimo Rivola Is afraid Of KTM For The 2023 Season
Categories: MotoGP
Aprilia Racing has transformed itself from outsider to title contender in the 2022 MotoGP World Championship. Aprilia team director Massimo Rivola has provided new momentum since 2019 in Noale.
Compared to most other MotoGP manufacturers, Aprilia Racing has to bake smaller bread financially because it lacks a solvent main sponsor like Repsol or Monster.
That’s why the Aprilia MotoGP project is always accompanied by concerns about how long the good phase of the factory from Noale can last.
Not only is Ducati very strong, but Repsol Honda eventually will find a way out of their current mess. And Massimo Rivola shows a lot of respect for his colleagues at KTM.
Brad Binder is regularly able to put his KTM in the Top 8 – Image provided by Motorsport Images
The Aprilia racing director admits in an interview with SPEEDWEEK.com: “If I’m honest, I’m a bit scared of KTM as far as the 2023 season is concerned.”
“I think they will start the 2023 season with a superb engine. I don’t know engine designer Kurt Trieb personally, but I’m convinced he’s planning something very special. And KTM, after all, already has an excellent engine.”
But Aprilia, too, has also made considerable progress with its new 90-degree V4 1000cc engine unveiled in January of 2020.
Opponents marvel at the exemplary drivability, impressive acceleration and striking top speed of the RS-GP22 engine, which also leaves nothing to be desired in terms of reliability.
Just recently at the Durch Grand Prix in Assen, Aleix Espargaro demonstrated just how powerful the Aprilia package is.
Brad Binder is regularly able to put his KTM in the Top 8 – Image provided by Motorsport Images
After dropping back to 15th place due to the collision eith Fabio Quartararo, the Spaniard was still able to get back to fourth position with an increwdible double overtake in the last corner.
