AT THE END OF A PERFECT RACE, ALEIX IS THIRD IN SILVERSTONE

A historic result, not only in terms of statistics. The first podium in MotoGP history arrived today in Silverstone at the end of a substantially perfect race by Aleix Espargaró. Aprilia had never before finished this high in the premier four-stroke motorcycle racing category. It was the best interpretation of a 2021 RS-GP that had everything except its christening in a race, after demonstrating exponential growth from the season start. The result is worth even more when we consider the current level of the championship, perhaps unparalleled on the world stage in terms of difficulty, with all the bikes on the grid within a few tenths of one another in every timed session.

It is a result with its roots in Noale, where an entire racing department has been working non-stop since the début year in 2015. With ups and downs but never losing sight of the goal: to take Aprilia to the point of competing with the best in the world, developing their technology on the track and improving step by step.

And, of course, our thoughts turn to Fausto Gresini, part of the Aprilia MotoGP family from the very start and, precisely for this reason, also part of today’s result.


ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"We’ve come so close. We have almost had it several times and finally we did it! A deserved podium that we’ve worked hard for and I dedicate, first and foremost, to Aprilia. The team has always worked to the utmost during these years. We have overcome difficult times together and now we are reaping the fruits of our labour. On the podium, I thought about Fausto, my family, and all the people who have been close to me. Our growth over the last two years has been extraordinary. We have improved in every aspect, but we needed a podium to lend credence to what we’ve done. I knew we had a chance today. We built our performance throughout all the sessions and I felt good in warm up this morning too. I had a few doubts at the start on tyre choice but in the end, we got it right. I lost a few positions at a certain point but I was able to recover, except on Fabio, who pulled away and created a gap. In the finale, I was struggling a bit with the front, but to compensate, I had good traction and that’s why I didn’t fight Jack in the braking sections, relying instead on crossing the trajectory and exploiting my acceleration. Now we need to celebrate and then get refocused straight away. There are more races coming up where we can be competitive. One podium can’t be enough to make us happy. We want more."

Mitas has been selected as an original equipment supplier for the new 2021 Piaggio Beverly 400 range with its TOURING FORCE-SC tyres.

“We are very pleased to be selected as an original equipment supplier for the new Piaggio Beverly 400. The partnership represents a further strengthening of our relationship with Piaggio and our efforts to provide products for efficient urban mobility,” says Gustavo Pinto Teixeira, Vice President Two Wheels and Specialty Tyres.

Bicycling is a great way to get some workouts, enjoy the views, and lower your carbon impact. Bike riders, on the other hand, confront a slew of dangers. Even on a designated path, they still frequently share space with automobiles, and accidents can occur anytime. So, you need to be careful and follow basic bike riding safety tips for your benefit and overall wellness.

What Are the Topmost Bike Riding Safety Tips?

Bicycling is a fantastic way to be autonomous while having fun. It's vital to keep in mind, though, that a bike is not a joke. It's a vehicle, after all. So, when you're riding, keep your calm and observe some simple safety precautions. Being safe is of the utmost importance in every walk of life. 

Wear A Helmet

Putting on a helmet is the first step in each bike trip. Nevertheless, it's also critical that you get the right fit. This is the greatest way for your headgear to cover you. Everybody, particularly adults and children, should wear a bicycle helmet on every bicycle ride, irrespective of the duration of the journey. You must ensure that the helmet is approved and capable of protecting you in the event of an accident. As a result, avoid low-cost alternatives and go for approved helmets. They may be more expensive, but they will save your life.

Dress in Bright Colors

You need to be noticed by other drivers even if it's afternoon, dawn, twilight, adverse weather, or nighttime. It has not been proven that wearing white makes you more noticeable. Instead, while biking at night or during the day, constantly wear vibrant, fluorescent, or other bold colors. Use reflective material or symbols, as well as blinking lights or something that emits light. It's important to remember that just because you can see a motorist doesn't indicate that the driver can see you too. So, try to wear brighter colors to be seen and avoid accidents.

Watch Out for Hazards

You need to constantly watch out for road hazards. Speed bumps, glass shards, pebbles, pools, twigs, and dogs are all potential risks. All of these dangers have the potential to cause a collision. If you're biking with pals, scream out and point to the danger to notify the bikers behind you. This way, you can easily shield yourself and others from road hazards.

Stay Focused

Keep your eyes on the road and all other vehicles around you. You must foresee what others will do before they even do it. This is proactive riding, and the sooner you detect a particular risk, the sooner you can take action to avoid a collision. You must follow the flow of traffic and move in the same way as it does. Follow the same rules as an automobile when it comes to road markings, indicators, and speed limits. You must also presume that the other party is not aware of your presence. So, keep an eye out for risks or scenarios to avoid, such as objects, stones, potholes, grates and railroad tracks.

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MAVERICK VINALES WILL MAKE HIS DEBUT ON THE APRILIA RS-GP AT MISANO

TWO-DAY TEST FOR THE SPANISH RIDER ON 31 AUGUST - 1 SEPTEMBER

Maverick Vinales' debut on the Aprilia RS-GP will take place on the Italian track at Misano Adriatico. The first contact between the Spanish rider and the Italian team is scheduled for two days of testing on 31 August - 1 September.

This marks the start of Maverick's integration into the new structure that will accompany him throughout the 2022 season, a gradual approach to the improved harmony that is essential in such an extraordinary championship as modern MotoGP.

ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING TECHNICAL MANAGER
"From a technical point of view, it is always fascinating to listen to the impressions of a rider who is testing your bike for the first time. Especially with a champion like Maverick, who we are pleased to welcome into the Aprilia Racing family. After the great work carried out on the track by the racing department over the last two years, we are adding yet another piece to the path of growth that we are undertaking with encouraging results. Clearly the first approach involves a very practical adaptation phase, in terms of ergonomics and setup, which we know vary for each rider. But I'm sure that Maverick's talent and speed will come to the fore right away and I can't wait to start working together".

72.2% of drivers consider changing their vehicle as ULEZ expansion looms

Bikesure; the specialist motorbike insurance broker’s recent survey of Londoners found that a majority will change the way they travel when the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion takes place later this year. With motorbike sales recovering in the UK, (in May 2021 sales are up 40.3% vs the 2020*) it is no surprise that 84% of people will continue to ride in the ULEZ following its expansion in October 2021.

Bikesure have published their ULEZ 2021 Report tracking opinion change over three consecutive years towards the ULEZ and the alternative modes of transport favoured by commuters. This year 18.6% are set to choose two wheels over four with 9.3% of them favouring an eclectic or low-emission motorbike, moped or scooter over any other vehicle type.

Londoners to go green on two wheels

Although a majority of Londoners will continue to ride in the ULEZ following its expansion, commuters are giving new consideration to the benefits of switching to EVs. The ULEZ expansion has accelerated a majority of Londoners' intentions to buy an EV (73.4%) as those who join the green transport revolution can anticipate lower running costs as well as making a positive impact on the environment. Encouragingly, only 13.5% of people are planning to stick with petrol vehicles.

Those set to switch to greener alternatives such as an EV or an electric scooter or motorbike can anticipate saving on the £12.50 daily charge for older and more polluting vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes) that continue to drive within the newly expanded ultra low emission zone.

ULEZ vs. CAZ’s

While sentiments remain positive about the impact of the ULEZ, with its expansion looming, commuter approvals have slightly decreased as almost 4 million people are set to be impacted. This year, 40.3% of respondents felt it was a good idea, compared to 44.9% in 2020.

There has also been a decrease in the amount of people who understood the reasons behind the ULEZ expansion, but couldn’t help but feel frustrated by it. This year, 37.5% approve of the ULEZ expansion but are frustrated by its impact on their lives, down on 43.2% surveyed in 2020.

Encouragingly, 37.4% feel the introduction of Clean Air Zones across several major UK cities is a positive thing for the country. While some scepticism remains, the verdicts are very similar, with again the vast majority (66.1%) hold positive sentiment for the introduction of CAZs.

“After a tough start to the year for the motorcycle industry, it is encouraging to see a positive increase in those not just considering switching their form of transport to motorbikes, but also considering electric alternatives” says Rob Balls, Underwriting Manager at Bikesure.

Read Bikesure’s ULEZ 2021 report here

These findings were sourced from a survey of 1,000 nat rep from 14 - 21 June 2021.

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