Aprilia is continuing to push the limits of its RS-GP despite already investing heavily in the next generation of MotoGP machinery, with a new aerodynamic solution highlighting the factory’s determination to remain in the championship fight.
The Noale-based manufacturer is working on its future 850cc project under technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini, but development of the current RS-GP has not slowed. With Jorge Martin leading the riders’ championship and Marco Bezzecchi also firmly in contention, Aprilia has little reason to take its focus away from the present.
Martin currently holds a 12-point advantage over reigning champion Marc Marquez, while Bezzecchi sits third, 42 points behind the championship leader.
At the centre of Aprilia’s development programme is Bezzecchi, who has quickly established himself as one of the factory’s key sources of feedback. His ability to understand subtle changes in the bike has made him an important part of the development process alongside test rider Lorenzo Savadori.
That role extends beyond simply evaluating aerodynamic upgrades. Bezzecchi has been closely involved in assessing changes across the RS-GP, helping Aprilia determine which solutions can provide a genuine performance gain.
The latest example appeared at the Red Bull Ring, where Bezzecchi tested a distinctive new tail section.
Source: Motorcycle News
The revised design features two additional flaps positioned ahead of the supports for the RS-GP’s dual-element rear wing. The unusual arrangement is aimed at controlling the airflow around the rear of the motorcycle and extracting more performance from the existing aerodynamic package.
The concept is similar to ideas previously seen on Marc Marquez’s Ducati Desmosedici, with the additional surfaces designed to better manage the airflow around the tail.
The aim is to improve aerodynamic efficiency on the straights while also generating a small amount of additional downforce when the bike is heavily leaned into corners. In MotoGP, where gains are often measured in fractions of a second, even a relatively small improvement can be significant.
For Aprilia, however, the development push is not simply about producing a striking new aerodynamic solution. The team is trying to maximise the current RS-GP while simultaneously preparing for the major technical changes coming with the 850cc regulations.
Bezzecchi’s role is particularly important in that process because Aprilia needs reliable feedback before deciding whether a new concept is worth pursuing.
Martin, meanwhile, has taken a more cautious approach to new developments. The championship leader generally prefers to stick with a setup once he has found a configuration that gives him confidence, rather than constantly changing the motorcycle.
That does not mean Martin is unwilling to try Aprilia’s latest ideas. Instead, he appears comfortable allowing Bezzecchi to test and validate new solutions before considering them himself.
The approach gives Aprilia two different development paths. Bezzecchi can explore new concepts and provide detailed feedback, while Martin can concentrate on extracting maximum performance from a package he already understands.
With the championship battle still finely balanced, Aprilia’s strategy could prove important. The manufacturer is not prepared to sacrifice its current title challenge simply because a new generation of bikes is already being developed.
The latest tail design is another indication that Aprilia intends to keep searching for performance from the RS-GP, with Bezzecchi once again playing a central role in determining just how far the bike can evolve.
