It’s almost hard to believe in looking at this Aprilia RS250 Racing model in the photo that we’re talking a bike that was built a good 12 years ago now. The two-stroke model certainly brings back memories of the heydays of 250cc racing. Originally built to celebrate Aprilia’s success in the GP250 category, the model already featured nearly everything Aprilia had to throw at it in terms of technology. Even now this 1998 Aprilia RS250 looks like it would hold more than just its own on a track day.

Send your funny, bizarre or surprising pics to us and we’ll post them, with your name. We’d love to share what you guys find in the world of motorcycling! Send to: pics@twowheelsblog.com.

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The city of Noale, Aprilia’s home town, held a big bash for Max Biaggi and the manufacturer in the town’s historic square on Friday evening to celebrate the championship titles and we were expecting to hear the official news that the Roman Emperor had finally signed for the 2011-2012 season, but for some reason, the announcement did not take place leaving fans still unsure of Biaggi’s future plans.

Apparently the Roman Emperor wants more money or he’s definitely thinking of hanging up his leathers and play daddy with his two children (his second will be born next month) and divide his time between Montecarlo and Malibu.

With the next Superbike test scheduled at the Motorland Aragon circuit at the end of the month, Piaggio and Aprilia racing director Gigi dall’Igna will have to give in to Biaggi’s demands and convince him to continue racing for the marque or find another top rider to field next to Leon Camier and at this late date, it won’t be easy.

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KTM already saw its dominance of the offroad racing segment slip slightly at the 2010 Dakar as Aprilia’s new RXV450 Rally bike took third spot on the podium, behind two KTM models. And things seem to be continuing swimmingly for the Aprilia RXV 4.5 Rally as it takes on the Pharaons Rally with rider Francisco ‘Chaleco’ Lopez gaining a first spot in Stage 1 and second place in Stage 3. That stage favoured Aprilia as rider Gerard Farres came in first.

The offroad and rally segment is being shaken up a little with contenders like the Yamaha Super Tenere back in form and the Aprilia RXV4.5 Rally proving its mettle. It looks like the KTM era might be over, but then it’s fair to say rule changes in the Dakar rally have forced them into developing bikes in different ways, too.

The transition time for KTM has meant that other manufacturers have also been able to make their mark. The only thing which might put a spanner in the works for Aprilia is the company plan announcement from Piaggio that Aprilia will focus on sports bike models in the future. In fact, looking at their press site, Aprilia is clearly proud of its manufacturer’s title and championship win with Max Biaggi in the 2010 WSBK, but there’s no mention from Aprilia Racing of its recent exploits in rally racing. Here’s hoping they stick around and are successful in the 2011 Dakar to broaden the competitors in this segment.

Source | Motorbiker.org

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The Aprilia RSV4 Max Biaggi replica is designed as a track-only bike which could be used as an entry-level bike in the SBK as it complies with FIM racing regulations. It can be purchased directly from Aprilia Racing for 50,000 euros. The RSV4 Biaggi replica has 200 hp and weighs just 175 kg, thanks also to its carbon fibre fairing (which can be ordered in either carbon look or with the Alitalia offical SBK livery).

This bike is strictly for the racer in you: it can be ordered with your own specs and production and delivery takes place with Aprilia Racing, meaning you get the full treatment. It’s about as close to being a superbike rider as you can get. Features include top triple cam, Ohlins pressurised gas forks, Marchesini forged magnesium wheels, Pirelli Diablo SBK tyres and Brembo brakes. The aluminium twin beam frame can be completely adjusted to the rider’s needs, so you’d best turn up with an idea of just how you want your replica.

The 65° V4 Aprilia engine has 200 hp and 125 Nm of torque. It’s got Weber-Marelli throttle with ride by wire system and Aprilia Racing’s APX digital engine mapping. The RSV4 Biaggi replica also has Akrapovic titanium exhaust and there’s a six-speed transmission with QuickShift technology. The price tag and some of the more complicated aspects of the bike indicate a market of small race teams and not your average track-day rider. See the gallery below, including live pics from the Monza SBK round.

Aprilia RSV4 Biaggi Replica live

Continue reading: Aprilia RSV4 Max Biaggi replica live pics and full details

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Just three days ago it seemed that Aprilia would be fielding three bikes for this weekend’s race at Portimaom instead Shinya Nakano has decided that he would not be present for the final round as his neck injury is still not fully healed.

Nakano missed Race 2 at Nurburgring and the last two rounds due to neck pain and was substituted by Marco Simoncelli at Imola and BSB 2009 Champion Leon Camier at Magny-Cours. Camier is now at Portimao subbing for Nakano and was 17th in the first free practice while Max Biaggi was 13th.

According to the Japanese rider, who has struggled to come to terms with the all new Aprilia superbike and match team mate Max Biaggi’s performances on the RSV-4 Factory, felt that the long journey from Japan to Portugal with three days of riding would be too difficult.

This also means that Nakano will miss the two day post race tests at Portimao that take place next week. Aprilia has yet to confirm Nakano for the 2010 season.

Source | crash.net

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Today’s ninth round of the WSBK Championship at Donington Park saw Ben Spies take both races and is now just 14 points behind World Superbike Championship leader Noriyuki Haga.

Ben Spies, (1st, 1st)

“It was a picture perfect weekend. It was a tough race, Max was there the whole time but we were able to do quick laps to stay ahead, the last three laps I rode as hard as I could just to make sure of the win. In the second race I knew Nori had a big crash and I hope he’s ok. It’s not the way we want to win it but you have to take the points when you can. It was a good second race for us though. The track was hot and a bit slick so we made some changes to the bike which made it better from race one. It was a good job for Leon, getting on the podium at his home round was great, I know how that feels. It was tough being out on my own, I had to focus lap to lap to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes. I can’t thank the Yamaha guys enough we changed a lot of things around and they came and delivered me two really good bikes to win on.”

Max Biaggi (2nd, 21st)

“During the second race, I felt the vibrations a lot more. It was probably because of the fact that there wasn’t as much grip on the track which would also explain why there were so many falls. I started off well and I was able to keep up with Spies’ pace, but during the fourth lap I entered the U turn the same way I always do and about halfway through, I lost the front tyre. I managed to keep the motorcycle running, but re-entering from outer kerb area, I was hit by another driver and ended up with this minor injury to my foot. I’m disappointed because I could have had another spot on the podium.”

Noriyuki Haga (3rd, DNF)
Race 1: ”

I’m very happy to have made the podium today because we knew it would be a very difficult weekend. I am proud to have reached the 100 podium mark! At the start of Race 1 I did all I could to stick with Max and Ben but, even though I was pushing, today they seemed to have a small advantage and I was unable to do better than third.”

Race 2: Haga, after today’s accident, was unavavilable for comment at time of print.

Continue reading: WSBK Donington - Final Rider Quotes

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The story regarding Team Toth is getting more complicated and mysterious as the hours go by.

According to Gpone.com ,who first reported the news about Toth’s financial difficulties, is now writing that Mattia Pasini’s #75 Aprilia is not in in Team Toth’s trucks as Toth declared to Motogphirek, but are under lock and key in one of Aprilia’s trucks as they have been since the Catalunya GP when Aprilia placed the bikes under precautionary seizure.

Mattia Pasini is not even sure if he will be able to take part in this Saturday’s Assen TT Race. Here’s what he had to say to GPone:

“I found out about this story after Barcelona. I was supposed to go to Valencia to test and instead we ended up with no bikes. The worse thing is I don’t know what to expect. I’m here, the trucks are here, the mechanics are here, even our hospitality is here, but we don’t have our bikes. I haven’t been able to to talk to Imre, but Aprilia … I don’t understand. Maybe they’re afraid of me, and even with their cast offs I can still beat them.”

Source | gpone

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Yamaha SBK looks like they’re risking to loose their sensational top rider Ben Spies.

According to this week’s issue of MotoSprint, the Texas Terror has upped his ante in contract negotiations and is asking for a cool 1.1 million euros to ride for them next year, 10% more than this 2009 season.

Spies probably thought Yamaha would immediately jump at the opportunity to sign him on again, no matter what he was asking, considering the fantastic debut season he’s having so far. Spies so far has 8 race wins in 16 races, despite all the mechanical problems that his R1 has given him, and is in second place in the championship standings, just 48 points from leader Noriyuki Haga.

Continue reading: Aprilia wants Ben Spies

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Max Biaggi was extremely angry and upset when finishing third in Race 1 he received a penalty for cutting the Roggia chicane on the seventh lap. When the Italian went to podium, the loudspeakers announced that Biaggi had received a 20 second penalty and the Monza race direction was awarding third place to Kiyonari and that the Roman Emperor was being relegated to 11th place.

Here’s what the Italian rider had to say after Race 1:

“This Championship is managed by amateurs! It’s disgusting the way they treated us! First, the cutting of the chicane was almost insignificant and I didn’t even gain a tenth of a second and second, when I asked for the FIM representative, Claude Denis for an explanation he told me that he didn’t have time to discuss this with me. I’m tired of this conduct, I’m calling it quits with SBK.”

Aprilia was able to convince Biaggi to take part in Race 2, where he finished 5th.

After Race 2 Biaggi was much calmer and added:

Continue reading: Max Biaggi Hits Out After Penalty

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