As previously anticipated, Aprilia showed up at the 2012 EICMA exhibition in Milan to introduce the new Aprilia RSV4 R ABS and Factory ABS 2013, the two new variants of the bike that won all the available titles in the 2012 World Superbike Championship.

The model is obviously equipped with plenty of electronic devices and systems developed in SBK racing and that are very beneficial to the riders in terms of performance, handling and safety. The whole lot goes by the name of APRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) and includes the ATC (Aprilia Traction Control, which can be adjusted on 8 levels while riding through a joystick on the left handlebar), the AWC (Aprilia Wheelie Control, adjustable on three levels, that has been recalibrated for improved performance), the ALC (Aprilia Launch Control, adjustable in 3 levels) and the AQS (Aprilia Quick Shift, which provides for rapid gear changes).

With all that elctronic trickery at your disposal, you can expect these babes to make you feel like 2012 WSBK Champ Max Biaggi, getting the best out of its outstanding 65° V4 engine (whose output is now 184 hp, with peak torque of 117 Nm). A redesigned exhaust system, top notch brakes provided by Brembo and standard ABS are the other highlights of this outstanding weapon. All things considered, we just expect to see it at the forefront of any SBK competition in 2013 as well.

Continue reading: Aprilia RSV4 R ABS and Factory ABS 2013 live @ 2012 EICMA in Milan

Red Devils Roma Superbike team debuted in World Superbikes this season with Niccolò Canepa using a Ducati 1198, but next year has decided not to use the new 1199 Panigale (that replaces the 1198 in the championship) and will be switching to an Aprilia RSV4 Factory machine.

The Italian team will present new rider Michel Fabrizio along with its 2013 racing program next Sunday at the Vallelunga circuit during the last round of the CIV championship, before heading to the Motorland Aragon next Monday for a three-day test with the rest of the Superbike teams.

Source | bikeracing.it

Chaz Davies debuted in World Superbikes in 2012 and with his 164,5 points and 9th place in the overall standings is this year’s WSBK Rookie of the Year.

The ParkinGO rider made an almost seamless transition into the Superbike class after winning the 2011 World Supersport title - always with ParkinGO - and scored an impressive victory in Race 2 at Nurburging and three third place podiums (Nurburgring, Moscow and Aragon), which also helped Aprilia win this year’s manufacturers title.

Despite not ending the final round of the season at Magny-Cours on high note, the Welsh rider was able to overcome technical gremlins and a crash in race 1 to finish race 2 in 8th. Davies will be now leaving Giuliano Rovelli’s team to partner Marco Melandri in BMW Italia in 2013.

“The last race of the season did not go exactly as planned. It started with the problems on Friday and continued with a crash in race 1 which also created some problems in race 2. This is certainly not the way I wanted to finish with the team … Today I wanted very different results.

I have spent wonderful years with them and I must say it weighs to have to leave them but it is also true that it is right for me to take advante of the great opportunity that’s been offered to me for next year. I really have to thank Giuliano [Rovelli] and the whole team ParkinGO … they were really a family to me. Now I have to learn a new bike, we’ll see you soon.” said Davies.

During yesterday’s Aprilia Factory Team presentation and press conference in Milan, five time World Champion Max Biaggi let it slip that 2012 will be an all important season for the Aprilia Superbike team as it will be the penultimate year for the RSV4 Factory, as development on the bike will be halted in 2013 and that it will be replaced at the end of 2013.

What Aprilia has in store for fans has yet to be leaked, but if they want to compete against the stunning 1199 Ducati Panigale, we could see another important step forward in Italian design and performance.

According to Speedweek Alex Hofmann will be testing an Aprilia based CRT machine at Valencia this Wednesday to Friday.

Hofmann is Aprilia’s test rider and also a MotoGP commentator, will be testing the RSV4 in its CRT form for Aspar Martinez’ MotoGP/Moto1 team, as the Spanish manager has yet to announce which rider they’ll be fielding in 2012.

The German website is also reporting that the Aprilia RSV4 will be equipped with the gear driven camshaft that was outlawed in World Superbikes in 2011 and the Noale based company wants around 1.3 million euros per a complete bike, but the chassis maker hasn’t be named.

Hopefully Hofmann who is avid on Twitter will tweet a photo of the new machine on Wednesday, so stay tuned.

Photo source | alex66.com

Aprilia’s range of sportsbikes, supermotos and naked bikes will not receive any dramatic turnaround for the next season. RSV4, Dorsoduro 750, Shiver 750 and Dorsoduro 1200 for the year 2012 will just get some aesthetic change that, apparently, will be enough to earn them the “Model Year 2012″ tag.

The R APRC version of the Aprilia RSV4 will be available in a flashy all-yellow livery which will join the current white and black color schemes, whereas the Factory APRC will stick to its golden rims and black plain color pattern, although some red inserts can now be spotted here and there.

Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200 will enter the 2012 with a couple of two-tone color schemes: black-white with red inserts and black-red with grey inserts, while the Factory version remains the same. Aprilia Shiver in 2012 will also be available with two new color schemes: gray-white and red-black with the same layout of the previous restyling. Check the whole lot out in our large photo gallery.

View the full Aprilia 2012 color schemes at the 2011EICMA photo gallery

When World Supersport winning team ParkinGO lucked out on taking over the Yamaha Superbike team effort, it seemed that the squad would move into the 2012 Superbike championship with Chaz Davies and field a Ducati, however yesterday at Portimao, in what was supposed to be a secret test, Davies was riding an Aprilia RSV4.

According to motosprint.it, who also has a spy shot of Davies at the helm of the Aprilia, has offered Giuliano Rovelli’s squad a factory backed RSV4 to run next season.

If ParkinGO decides to go the Aprilia route instead of Ducati (this change of heart could also based on the new rules which will see the twins get a further weight increase), the Noale based manufacturer will have their own factory team with Max Biaggi and Eugene Laverty, ParkingGo with 2011 Supersport champion Davies and privateer team Pata, who still has to announce who will be their rider next season, but rumors have it that Pata team owner Marco Borciani wants Randy de Puniet.

Max Biaggi had to sit out both races at Nurburgring ( missing a race for the first time in 19 years of his career), thus giving an even more freer reign to Carlos Checa’s march to this year’s championship title.

The Aprilia Alitalia rider fractured his left foot in Friday’s free practice in a strange incident where he was hit by flying debris, and his partecipation in the upcoming round at Imola is still in doubt as his recovery is not as going as fast as he expected, even if he didn’t have to undergo surgery to correct the fracture he sustained.

Biaggi wrote this update to his fans in his personal blog:

Hello people! Here I am at 10 days after my bad injury (damned unlucky) to write about my physical condition. The pain from the fracture started letting up only yesterday. Moreover, the fracture was displaced and I knew it would be more difficult than expected. I’m working all day using magnetic therapy and doing small movements. But the thing is more complicated than expected. Time is short and the difficulties are huge … but I’m trying with all my strength. I really want to go racing again.

I am sending you a photo of me, and this was the first time I left my house in Monaco since I returned home … finally! This week will be important in trying to step up my recovery and I’m putting my body and soul in being at Imola. I can’t assure you anything, except the fact that I’m going to fight to be there. I’m constantly in contact with Dr. Claudio Costa and with my physiotherapist. These long days at home made me I realize that the time never passes, but my kids give me joy and keep up my moral … it’s a great sensation. Well now I leave you and give you an update next week. ”

Source | motoblog.it

What does the Aprilia RSV4 and the Space Shuttle have in common? Nothing … but that didn’t stop Aprilia USA from paying tribute to the space shuttle program and the last flight that ventured into space for the final time, marking the end of an era that lasted 30 years and the courage of all the people behind it.

The video has some marvelous footage of both the shuttle and the RSV4 and contains some interesting comparison facts, so helmets off to Aprilia and Piaggio for this tribute. Enjoy the video.

Not all bikes vs cars videos are quite as exciting as this one. The old favourite Ducati vs Ferrari pairing has been replaced by the new Aprilia RSV4 APRC and the Nissan GT-R. The Aprilia is the latest superbike from the company with added technological goodies making it one of the best specified bikes on the market. In this video, we can see that the track is the true home of the RSV4 APRC with its traction control, launch control and quick shift transmission. The numbers at the end of the race with the GT-R only prove to show what we already know - bikes are better! The video was produced in conjunction with Hell for Leather, sent to us by Wes - who has done a fine job with the video and who actually said expectations were the GT-R would have been faster.