ALEIX FINISHES THE FIRST TESTS IN DOHA WITH GOOD SENSATIONS AND THE THIRD BEST TIME

LORENZO CONTINUES TO IMPROVE DESPITE A PAINFUL SHOULDER

The 2021 MotoGP season started off on the right foot for Aprilia. The new RS-GP, which had already earned the stamp of approval from Aleix and Lorenzo in the Jerez tests, confirmed its improvements compared to the 2020 prototype on the Losail track as well. It is an evolution that involved all the major aspects, from aerodynamics to electronic strategies to the further advanced V4 engine.

Even without focusing attention on the fast lap which, in any case, let Aleix finish in third place after being fastest yesterday, the speed of the new RS-GP was confirmed by several long runs where the Spaniard maintained a promising pace.

Lorenzo Savadori is improving steadily, making his full-time début in the MotoGP World Championship, despite a painful shoulder that kept him from expressing 100% of his potential. Grappling with a new and demanding category, Lorenzo followed a work programme designed to let him gain confidence step by step. The focus of the next tests will be primarily ergonomics and position in the saddle - still not optimum. In addition to fundamental hours of apprenticeship on the bike.


ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"It’s just a test, that much is obvious, but our step forward is just as obvious. The hard work begun last year and continued over the winter resulted in improvements to the RS-GP, suiting my needs. We're not talking about just one aspect, but many small changes that make it different from the 2020 bike and more competitive. The weight reduction is a benefit and the greater aerodynamic load provides stability, which translates into a bike that accelerates better. The truly important note is not so much the flying lap as the pace: we are consistent. Even today during the race simulation, pace was objectively significant. The other side of the coin is the great physical effort required, especially after 10-12 laps. We need to work on that and on the right compromise between stability and handling."

LORENZO SAVADORI
"Two demanding days, particularly for me because of the soreness from a shoulder injury that bothered me rather a lot. Yesterday I tried to gain confidence on the bike and with the tyres, whereas today we worked on ergonomics and my position in the saddle. We’ll be concentrating precisely on this aspect in the next tests, because we identified a few solutions that could make me a bit more incisive."

Automotive charity, Ben, announces that its 10-day virtual active challenge, Breakout for Ben, has raised just under £159,000 - an amazing total that will help address its £1million fundraising shortfall.

The 2021 MotoGP season kicks off on the asphalt at Losail Circuit in Qatar for the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. Just hours before taking to the track for the first official tests, the complete Italian team unveiled the new weapon from Noale - a revamped RS-GP. With sincere and emotional thoughts for Fausto Gresini, who had been part of this project since its début in 2015.

Pulling the cover off the new V4 were Aleix Espargaró and Lorenzo Savadori, the pair of riders who will be tasked with racing the new prototype. A bike that represents the natural evolution of the 2020 project, a new beginning conditioned last year by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which hampered the initial, fundamental phase of development.

But over the winter, engineers and technicians in the racing department had the chance to work hard, with the goal of maintaining the strong points that had come out last season, while implementing new and important innovations. Some of these are rather evident, like the redesigned and more efficient aerodynamics or the carbon swingarm. Others, as is routinely the case, are hidden "under the skin".

We are delighted to tell you that the KICKBACK Custom + Retro Bike Show will take place once again at the wonderful Town Hall in Cheltenham.

On Sunday 23rd May the beautiful regency Town Hall will be packed full of top drawer custom and retro bikes from all over the UK. This is a great opportunity for some of the UK's finest bike builders to show us what they have been building in their sheds over lockdown. It's also a fabulous chance for visitors to jump on their bikes and blast through the Cotswolds into Cheltenham for a great day out with their mates.

The whole show takes place inside and around the wonderful Town Hall and the stunning Imperial Gardens, there is a licensed bar and cafe inside the Hall and outside in the gardens!

Due to Covid protocols we can only have half capacity in the hall at any one time so we have introduced a morning session and an afternoon session. It's an all ticket event with limited numbers.

See here for tickets

Pleasant confirmations and new arrivals for Team Gresini MotoE, who from this season onwards will be investing on young and Italian riders, with the key support of new title sponsor Indonesian Racing, who after Moto3 and Moto2, they further reinforce a relationship with the World Championship and Gresini Racing. The first electric team waving the Indonesian flag is therefore born, and it will be named Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE.

The new ‘electric’ line-up of Team Gresini has been confirmed, as the Italian squad places their hopes once again on young Italian riders. The new season will resume from the confirmation of Matteo Ferrari: the 2019 World Champion and 2020 series runner-up will be at the starting blocks of the new season, with the goal to remain at the sharp end of the series and try to reclaim the MotoE crown.

Andrea Mantovani will be at Ferrari’s side. The 26-year-old from Ferrara lands in MotoE from the Italian Championship of Speed (CIV) – Superbike category – and he will test his skills for the first time with the Energica Ego Corsa machine. He will race with the number 9.

The first test of 2021 will take place in about one hour at the Angel Nieto Circuit of Jerez de la Frontera (which will host the season opener).