Bikes

Image Gallery: 2015 Aprilia MotoGP and World Superbike Machinery

MotoGP, WSBK and World Superstock teams introduced in Milan

March 6, 2015

Aprilia's MotoGP machine is called the RS-GP and will be ridden by Alvaro Bautista and Marco Melandri. The bike is based on the ART machine used by several teams, which in turn is based on the company's RSV4 production literbike. 2015 is dedicated entirely to development, according to Aprilia, and a full factory prototype bike will be introduced for 2016.

Alvaro Bautista: “I like this new challenge. It gives me new stimulation and great motivation. We are well aware that we have a lot of work to do and we are also aware that this will be a season marked by development, so we aren't setting any goals for ourselves except to improve race by race, working hard. I was very pleased with the first two test sessions in Malaysia. It was nice to see a lot of people working hard to improve and listening to my requests."

Marco Melandri: “Following Aprilia in its ambitious return to MotoGP is a brave choice, especially after the decision to move the plans up. I am very motivated. I am confident and I know what this racing department is capable of, although that doesn't change the difficulties that we will inevitably have to face. There are also some advantages, like being able to “tailor” myself to a bike, something that I have never been able to do until now in my career, helping the guys in the development process and giving them my indications."

Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres will ride the Aprilia RSV4 in World Superbike competition; Haslam has already notched a win on the machine at the first round in Australia; it was the company's 50th WSBK win. Romano Albesiano: "There are some variables that could change things up on the playing field, especially in terms of regulations, but we have worked hard to adapt. We have a good mix of riders. Leon is a solid and expert rider, runner-up in the 2010 season, and he has already proven to be fast astride the RSV4. For Jordi the first races will certainly be demanding since he'll be dealing with adapting to the new category, but I think he will be able to finish among the best within a reasonably short period.”

Born in Ealing (UK) on 31 May 1983, Leon Haslam followed in the footsteps of his father, "Rocket" Ron, a Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing rider in the '80s famous for being quick off the line. After a stint in GP Leon moved over to Superbike where he rode to the best result of his career, a second place overall championship finish, in 2010, runner-up to Max Biaggi's Aprilia. A fiercely competitive rider with a purely English riding style, in Superbike he boasts a record of 4 wins and 30 podiums plus one pole position.

A factory derivative rookie, Jordi Torres Fernàndez was born in Rubì, Spain, on 27 August 1987. He was crowned Spanish national minimoto champion in 1998 and in 2001 and 2002 he won the national 125 championship. In 2003 he rode in the Spanish Supersport championship and in 2006 he took part as a wildcard in the Valencia round of the World Supersport Championship. Other appearances in the factory derivative world came in 2007 and 2008 as a wildcard in Superstock 1000. He took on the CEV Moto2 in 2010, finishing the season as runner-up and earned the 2011 and 2012 national title in Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing, also in the Moto2 class. In the same class he took his first win in 2013, finishing the season in tenth place.

Lorenzo Savadori and Kevin Calia are racing in the Superstock 1000 FIM CUP on the Nuova M2 Racing Team's new Aprilia RSV4-RRs. Lorenzo and Kevin distinguished themselves in 2014 by achieving important results in their respective championships, Savadori in second place and Calia in third place respectively in the Superstock 1000 FIM CUP and the CIV Superbike championship.

Alvaro Bautista – born in Talavera de la Reina on 21 November 1984 – took his first World Championship steps astride an Aprilia 125cc in 2002 as a wildcard, whereas his first complete championship season came in 2003 where he was also crowned Spanish champion in the category. He rode yet another bike from Noale to victory as World Champion in the "eighth litre" class in 2006. In the 250 class he immediately took two wins in his rookie 2007 season, whereas in 2008 he finished as championship runner-up.

Born in 1982, Marco Melandri began his career at a very young age in minimoto, winning the Italian Championship in 1992 and 1994. Moving to 125 he became Italian Champion for the category in 1997, a title which allowed him to début in the "eighth litre" MotoGP class. Third in 1998 and second in 1999, Marco moved up a category to ride a powerful 250 two-stroke with Aprilia. This was the beginning of a Melandri-Aprilia match up where he finished fifth in the rider standings in 2000, third in 2001 and World Champion (with 9 wins and 2 podiums out of 16 races) in 2002.
Rising to the premier MotoGP category, Melandri immediately confirmed his competitiveness, finishing out the year in second place. In the various MotoGP categories Melandri has won 22 races and been on the podium 62 times. In 2011 Marco Melandri moved over to World Superbike and was immediately a key player, so much that he was battling for the title from his rookie season, finishing the year in second place. Finishing third in the 2012 season, the rider from Ravenna was also a contender for the title in 2013, finishing out the season in fourth place. In SBK he has taken 19 wins and 31 podiums.

"My goal for this season is to win, as it always is" said Leon Haslam, "and this year I'm pretty certain that I have the best possible technical package available to try and do just that. I fell in love with the Aprilia RSV4 from the very first laps. Performance is smooth and the electronics are my best weapon, plus I can count on a professional team that is accustomed to winning. Plus, I'm coming off my first winter break without any physical problems. I'm still not at 100% fitness but I'm improving day by day and I'm working with a highly skilled technical team."

"Being on a team that has won so often in Superbike is a guarantee. I'll need to work hard to take the best possible advantage of this opportunity" stated Jordi Torres. “This year everything is new for me: bike, team, category and even many of the circuits. I'm still working on adapting to all these changes, but I'm confident. My first sensations were very positive. My feeling is improving lap by lap and I can't wait to get down to business so I can show just what I am capable of.”

Fausto Gresini, MotoGP Team Manager: “The Piaggio Group has given us an opportunity that we could not turn down to work in close contact with a manufacturer with a trophy case that speaks for itself. This exciting adventure, which for Aprilia is a return to the top world motorcycle racing category and for Gresini Racing opens up an important new chapter, is being officially introduced today, but it is a project that we have been working on already for some months. We want to be as prepared as possible for a challenge which promises to be difficult, but exciting at the same time. After all, I couldn't have imagined anything more stimulating for someone like me who lives and breathes racing passion."

Born in 1994, Kevin Calia boasts a respectable collection of titles. 2004 Italian and European minimoto champion, he took the Italian double title in 2005 and in 2006 he raced in the Italian MiniGP 50 Championship. In 2011, also in the Italian theatre, he finished third in the 125GP category before being crowned Moto3 champion in the 2012 CIV championship. In 2013 and 2014 he took part in the Italian Superbike Championship, finishing the seasons respectively in ninth and third place.

Another youngster, born in 1993, Lorenzo Savadori was 2008 Italian and European 125 Champion, the same season in which he made his début in the category World Championship with three wildcard spots (Mugello, Misano and Valencia). In 2009 he took part in the 125 Championship, finishing the season in 26th place with 7 championship points. His rookie year in the factory derivative world came in 2001 in the Superstock 1000 championship where he finished as runner-up last season.

Aprilia introduced its MotoGP, World Superbike and Superstock 1000 FIM Cup teams in Milan this week, with machinery and riders from all three world series represented. In MotoGP, Marco Melandri and Alvaro Bautista will ride the RS-GP; in World Superbike, Leon Haslam and Jordi Torres have already competed on the RSV4; Kevin Calia and Lorenzo Savadori will compete in the Superstock championship also on RSV4 equipment. Scroll through the gallery above to see images of each machine and learn more about the team and riders.

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