Aprilia returning to MotoGP

Aprilia bosses have confirmed to MCN that a new V4 engine will begin dyno testing next year as the Italian factory plots a future return to the MotoGP world championship.

No official date has been set for an Aprilia return to MotoGP after the Noale factory quit the premier class at the end of 2004 having struggled to make the three-cylinder Cube machine competitive.

Aprilia boss Gigi Dall’Igna confirmed to MCN that designs of the new motor were currently being worked on.

Aprilia will return to World Superbikes in 2009, but a MotoGP return is on the cards with Dall’Igna confirming Aprilia has no plans to enter the new 250GP four-stroke replacement class.

Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta unveiled the new class last weekend in Le Mans, with capacity between 625 and 650cc, limited revs and controlled ECU.

Aprilia though don’t want to participate in the new class, not least because they don’t have a production 600cc machine like its Japanese rivals.

Dall’Igna told MCN: “We will be back in MotoGP in the future and it will be a V4 motor. For me the V4 is the perfect engine for the 800cc class. For sure Yamaha this year show us that also the in-line four is a very good concept but my opinion is the V4 is the best package.”

Dall’Igna said Aprilia’s new MotoGP would be done completely in-house after heavy involvement from UK-based car engineering company Cosworth on its RS3 990cc machine.

“We will do this project completely in-house. The experience to do a good car engine is not enough to do a good engine for bikes,” added Dall’Igna.

NEW V4 PICS

A lightly camouflaged V4 has been spotted on the track. First time it has been sighted without RSVR fairings and the RSV swingarm. Also the frame and swingarm are different from the WSBK version unveiled at Milan.

The new Aprilia SX125 and RX125

Dedicated to today's demanding young sports riders, the Aprilia RX and SX 125 incorporate many of the features that have contributed to the amazing success of the RXV and SXV. These two stylish, high performance bikes set new standards for the 125 market.

Click here to watch the video!

Discover the Aprilia SX 125!

Discover the Aprilia RX 125!

It was inevitable that the innovative SXV and RXV would extend their influence to other members of the Aprilia range sooner or later. The world-beating styling, performance and technology of these fantastic machines was obviously destined to engender a family of eye-catching and modern off-road motorcycles. The SX 125 and RX 125 are the latest off-road machines from Aprilia. Specialist and refined, they are the obvious choice for young riders who want to stand out from the crowd.

The SX and RX are both built to deliver total rider satisfaction. Though the technology is basically the same, it has been adapted to match the different specialities. The SX and RX 125 share the same body, frame, engine and suspensions but their characters suit very different passions.

With its 17” wheels and sports tyres, the SX is the obvious candidate for the prize of the meanest 125 over mixed routes. Nippy and lightweight, the SX delivers real ‘big bike’ performance without exceeding the power restrictions imposed by law. Its refined, sprightly engine never lets you down, even when ridden to the limit on a racetrack.

RX is a historical name for Aprilia. Over the years the RX designation has graced machines with amazing performance, real ‘schools on wheels’ for young enthusiasts learning the ropes in off-road riding and racing. The new RX might not be an extreme enduro but it is perfectly able to tackle even the most challenging off-road circuits. The RX even has something of a split personality, because as soon as you get back on the road, it is equally happy as a daily commuter.

The RX and the SX share a clear Aprilia family look, obviously inspired by their bigger sisters, machines that have established a whole new trend in off-road design.

More info here

First win for Debon

250cc



Debon started well from the pole and immediately showed a wild pace on his slick tyres, despite the wet track. The Spaniard gained almost a second each lap over his pursuers. Half way through the race he had 11 second lead that he managed to keep up until the end of the race, when he got alone to the finishing line and conquered the first victory in his career. With the track slowing drying up, the pursuers formed a group with Pasini, Simoncelli and Poggiali catching up with Kallio’s Simon’s and Aoyama’s KTMs and Takahashi’s Honda. The two Italian riders went faster and engaged in a duel for the second position. The fight was harsh, Pasini managed to protect himself, but Simoncelli launched his final attack in the next-to-last corner, performing an extraordinary overtaking and leaving his rival with the third position.

125cc


The sky was grey over the historical circuit of the 24 hours, at the beginning of the race. Gadea started well from the pole and, together with other seven riders, started outdistancing his rivals. The Spaniard, Terol, Talmacsi and Bradl alternatively took the lead performing amazing overtakings and late breakings. Olive, Corsi, Di Meglio and Rabat, as well as Espargaro and Smith at the eighth lap, kept the control of their rivals without losing ground. During the fourteenth lap Olive took the lead and tried to escape gaining a second. At the following lap, however, the rain starter falling and the race is suspended. It was stopped just a lap before the two thirds, which would have automatically meant the end of the race. Riders had therefore to go back on track with rain tyres, in order to complete the remaining five laps. Riders entered as follows: Olive, Terol, Bradl, Talmacsi, Di Meglio, Corsi, Rabat, Espargaro and Gadea. Talmacsi starter well and tried to escape. However, he fell at the end of the second lap, leaving the lead to Terol, Smith and Di Meglio. The French rider, the specialist of wet conditions, took the command of the race at the next-to-last lap. He managed to control the race and got first to the finishing line, before his audience going wild. He was followed by Smith, 0”800 later and Terol, 3”077.

Motonline tests Dorsoduro

Another nice Dorsoduro video test popped up from the Italian website Motonline.

Check out the video test here

New motorace simulation game with Aprilia RSW250

Now something completely different. A new video game! No it's not SBK 08 which is coming out soon but a new game made by a group of Italian gamedesigners called Piboso. The game is called GP bikes and it's a very realistic motorcycle sim which plays a bit like GP500. It's not as arcady as the Motogp series.

But why is this game so interesting? The alpha demo of this new game has just been released, and you can drive an Aprilia RSW250 GP bike in the demo! How cool is that. Check out the video above for what you can expect in the demo.

Good news is that the game will be completely moddable so you will be able to add your own bikes and tracks. Who wouldn't want to ride a V4 on mugello or monza? It's all possible in the future.

Go download the demo here

Shiver 1200 rumors

You may have read some rumors lately about a Shiver/Dorsoduro 1200. It's certainly coming but not in the form of the horrible photoshops raptors and rockets made. I don't expect them to look a lot different than the 750 shiver. But I could be wrong. We'll see. I expect the bikes at the EICMA in november together with a faired version of the Shiver.

I also found a spec sheet of the new 1200cc engine(Which actually is more like 1150cc). It makes around 130hp at 9000rpm. The figure of 120nm torque is what we want to hear. Thats a bit less torque than the Ducati 1098 makes! As you can see in the official piaggio graph I posted the 1200 has a way steeper curve than the 750. Also note the dip at 4500rpm in both graphs, this is because the euro3 homologations are tested around that rpm. With the new 1200 engine I think the Shiver 1200 will be the ultimate replacement for the tuono.

Guess what? More dorsoduro goodies

Motorcycledaily has a new review up from their first ride on the Dorsoduro.

Go check it out here

MCN tests Dorsoduro

Aprilia News under construction

Aprilia News currently getting an overhaul so don't be surprised if the site looks a bit weird in the next couple of hours.