Aprilia has revealed its 2022 MotoGP livery, as it prepares to race as a factory team for the first time since its comeback to the premier bike racing category.
Aprilia MotoGP team marks the final manufacturer to reveal the livery that will be sported by its 2022 bike, the RS-GP for the upcoming MotoGP season.
The Italian outfit, joined by riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales, unveiled its new bike in an online launch ahead of the last official pre-season test, which begins on Friday at the new Mandalika track in Indonesia.
The new livery is a little bit flashy compared to last year’s due to the elimination of minor sponsor Castrol’s green flashes, which have been partially replaced by a larger Aprilia emblem on the side of the RS-GP.
Aprilia will run its team independently for the first time after splitting from long-time partner Gresini Racing, who also decided to make a team entry alone as Ducati customers for 2022 MotoGP.
Aleix Espargaro will remain in Aprilia for his sixth MotoGP championship campaign with the team following one of his most successful seasons with the brand back in 2021 after finishing eighth in the riders’ standings. On the other hand, Maverick Vinales will become a full-time rider for the team after having contested only five of the final six rounds of 2021 following factory Yamaha exit.
Espargaro said the new Aprilia was “unbelievable” in the corners after finishing second overall in the Sepang pre-season test last weekend amid some technical issues.
“The best thing is the turning, the bike is a lot more narrow,” Espargaro said.
“They did a good job because it’s not easy with these bikes, the engine, the electronics are very big and it’s not easy to reduce and put everything under the chassis.”
“So, they did a good job. The bike is not a revolution, it’s just a continuation of the RS-GP 21, but narrower, more agile, the bike turns more.”
“What we have to improve is still I have a lot of chattering. Here in Malaysia, I remember in 2020 I also had chattering.”
“So, chattering is something we have to improve. And as I’ve said, in this MotoGP era you need power.”
“The engine is a bit more powerful, but not enough. The chassis is different as well and the weight distribution we changed a little bit.”
“From the first lap on this circuit the bike fell to the corner, and this helps you a lot.”
“But also it creates a problem, because especially in the fast corner the speed I can carry is unbelievable, it’s amazing.”
Only the VR46 Ducati outfit has yet to announce its color scheme for the year.
