Aprilia Patents Aerodynamic Leathers

As the 2023 MotoGP season gets underway, Aprilia’s RS-GP is once again pushing the envelope when it comes to aerodynamic add-ons, sprouting even more winglets and ground-effect surfaces in the quest for extra performance. Now, having honed the bike to be as efficient as possible, Aprilia’s aerodynamicists are turning their attention to the awkwardly shaped component that sits on top of it, the rider.

Last year, patents from Aprilia revealed some of the secrets to the surprising speed of the RS-GP, which has gone from back marker to race winner in the space of a few seasons. Novel approaches to aerodynamics are a key element of the company’s thinking, explaining why the RS-GP looks unlike any other bike on the grid, and the 2023 version of the bike expands on the same ideas. Now, given the level of detail Aprilia and its rivals go into in their efforts to shed drag and increase downforce, the Noale company is starting to look at ways to make the rider’s shape cut through the air more cleanly.

It was 35 years ago in 1988 that Dainese introduced the hump to the back of its racing leathers, with Pierfrancesco Chili the first to use it on his 500cc Honda. Initially it was intended to be a safety aid, not an aerodynamic one, but Dainese credits Jean-Philippe Ruggia, riding in the 250cc class at the time, with noticing that the hump improved stability and reduced neck strain, encouraging the development of more aerodynamically focused versions. Although there have been attempts to make leathers even more aerodynamic since then—notably for land-speed record riders on semi-streamliners—and modern helmets are shaped with aero benefits in mind, Aprilia now believes there’s scope to make roadracing leathers notably more efficient.

The company’s new patent application mentions an earlier application, filed by Yamaha in 2005, for aero leathers in which extra sections were added to the rider’s sides, upper arms, thighs, and calves. The idea was to create a smooth shape when the rider was tucked in on straights, but Aprilia’s new document points out that the concept stumbled once the rider moved into a different position, for instance during braking or in corners, when the extra sections became cumbersome and compromising.

Like the old Yamaha idea, Aprilia’s new concept intends to smooth airflow over the rider when he’s tucked in, cutting drag to improve top speed on the straights. However, it’s a more subtle approach, intended not to hamper the rider’s mobility when he needs to move around on the bike. Of course, it’s also vital that the suit doesn’t compromise safety in the event of a crash.

The idea is to add “shell” elements to key parts of the suit, giving a smooth surface that makes for a more aerodynamic shape and work in unison better with the motorcycle’s own aero. These shells are intended to be separate parts, attached to a conventional set of leathers with Velcro, although the patent also says that leathers could be made with the aero elements built-in. There are 10 main components, five on each side of the rider. Starting at the front, there’s a shell on each of the rider’s forearms (No. 31) that smooths the airflow running back from the bike’s handlebars. Shells are also added to the upper arms and shoulders (No. 33), which are directly exposed to oncoming air.

Moving back, the largest components of the aero suit are added to each side of the rider (No. 32). Normally, when a rider is tucked in on a straight, leathers get bunched up in this section, creating wrinkles that hinder airflows. The new design creates a smooth surface here.

The rider’s legs also gain shell sections, one on each thigh (No. 38) and another on the lower leg (No. 39). The lower leg portion doubles as the knee slider. Since the front of the thighs and lower legs are exposed to airflow, the smoother shapes again promise to make the bike and rider cut through the air more cleanly.

From a safety perspective, the Aprilia patent suggests that the outer skins of these removable aero segments are made of plastic or a similar, smooth material, but that they could be filled with foam, gel, or air to give an additional layer of crash protection, as illustrated in cutaway drawings (Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the patent application). Aprilia’s patent also suggests that the reduced buffeting and turbulence on the rider as a result of the better aerodynamics will reduce his/her workload and make it easier to move around on the bike. Safety improvements could be vital in persuading race organizers to permit the leathers, as there are already growing concerns that the battle for aerodynamic superiority in MotoGP is getting out of hand. Banning the idea will be much more difficult if it can be shown to improve safety.

Will we see Aprilia’s riders—Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaró on the works bikes and Raúl Fernández and Miguel Oliveira in the RNF satellite squad—trying this idea in 2023? Given the extent of the aero seen elsewhere on the bikes, and the fact that MotoGP limits the number of in-season updates on fairing aerodynamics, this idea makes a lot of sense.