The Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC Special Edition has been revealed at the 2010 Intermot show. The special edition RSV4 Factory taps into Aprilia’s racing heritage, especially after Max Biaggi’s WSBK championship win this year and Aprilia having earned the manufacturer’s title. The RSV4 APRC applies track technology and experience to Aprilia’s supersports road bike, creating what Aprilia likes to call a benchmark in this segment.

The new RSV4 APRC special edition is fitted with features such as adjustable traction control, wheelie control, launch control and quick shift transmission. It includes some of the features of the electronic engine management system of the SBK Aprilia bike with APRC standing for ‘Aprilia Performance Ride Control’. The package has improved lubrication and closer gears on the V4 engine, a lighter exhaust and an improved butterfly valve management system which is more closely matched to the Ride by Wire system.

The RSV4 APRC special edition is designed both for those wanting a more serious track bike, and for hobby riders who love this kind of superbike technology. The bike is even fitted with new dual blend 200/55 tyres which have been specifically developed with Pirelli for WSBK circuits. More details after the jump include spec sheets.

Continue reading: Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC Special Edition details and pics

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Will BMW and Aprilia be racing in MotoGP in 2012? That’s a question that’s been floating around since the FIM and Dorna announced the new MotoGP rules that will go into effect in 2012. with final ratification expected at the Japanese GP in Motegi on the weekend of April 24-25.

Eskil Suter who prepares the MMX (roman numerals for 2010) chassis for numerous Moto2 bikes and who saw three bikes using his chassis in first five spots at Qatar, is getting a head start and is preparing a Moto1 bike with a BMW S1000 RR engine (who already meets 81mm bore criteria) and that the new bike could actually be ready by the end of this year and if the paddock gossip is correct, Moto1 rules could be implemented before the 2012 season.

Aprilia is also thinking of joining MotoGP in 2012 and many think that the RSV4 Factory bike was purposely conceived as a step towards entering the MotoGP series and according to the latest news, Piaggio-Aprilia will be in talks with Dorna during several European rounds to sound out their partecipation in the 2012 championship.

This could be the reason why Max Biaggi is already in contract negotiations with Aprilia and is pushing for another two year contract that would make him eligible, despite the fact he’ll be 41 in 2012, to make a triumphant return to MotoGP and the series that decided he was persona non grata.

Source | motograndprix.com and sportmediset.it

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The New York Police Department has been instructed to target motorcyclists breaking traffic laws more than any other motorist on the road, apparently due to disturbingly high mortality rates among riders. According to Hell for Leather and a little speeding incident on an Aprilia RSV4 Factory in New York, the mortality rates could be mostly caused by dangerous riding on extremely bad roads. It’s expected that the NYPD has statistics to back up the claims of high mortality rates amongst riders, although they haven’t been released.

On doing 80 mph in a 50 mph zone (nearly 130 km in an 80 km zone), but going with the flow of traffic, Wes Siler reports that the officer who pulled him over stated:

“The NYPD is under strict orders to aggressively prosecute traffic violations by motorcycles more than any other vehicles.”

If we give the NYPD the benefit of the doubt, what’s shocking is that there is clearly a problem to such an extent for riders in New York, that the police department feels it needs to take these measures. The message? Go slow - for your own safety, not the fine you’ll get.

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After getting the okay from the Superbike Commission to use their gear driven camshaft, Aprilia is now making the kit available for all RSV4 Factory owners, but costs for the kit have yet to be released.

Here’s what Aprilia’s Technical and Racing Director Gigi dall’Igna had to say:

We were certain our position was right, and we were in fact the first to announce the technical developments we were working on during the team presentation press conference. We are the newcomers in this great championship and, while adhering to the regulations, we are obliged to explore every technical possibility to help us close the gap between us and our rivals, who have years of experience and success behind them.”

“We have worked intensively on the gear driven camshaft system and its development is still a work in progress, with the main focus on improving power delivery. We could be ready to race in a couple of months, possibly for the US race at the Miller Motorsport Park.”

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During last month’s WSBK round at Phillip Island, Aprilia showed up with a gear driven cam motor on their Aprilia RSV4 Factory that Max Biaggi tried using during QP2, but not actually use during the two races.

When rival manufacturers got wind that Aprilia was using this new technology they got their nose’s slightly out of joint, but no official protest was lodged against the Noale based team, because Aprilia pointed out that the rules do not state the contrary on it’s use and that they offer this type of motor as an option for buyers of the homologated RSV4 Factory.

The SBK commission was expected to make a clarifying statement on the technical regulations regarding the gear driven cam before round 2 at Portimao, however the Italian company has announced that they will not be using it this race weekend, as the SBK Commission has yet to decide on amending rule 2.4.8 and it’s more likely to avoid further confrontation with their manufacturing rivals.

Aprilia test rider Alex Hofmann did further tests on the gear driven cam motor at Valencia two weeks ago.

Source | motosprint.it

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It’s seems that Aprilia isn’t going through a very good period lately. Beginning with the switch from the 250cc class to Moto2 where the Italian brand was leasing and supplying most of the bikes on the grid and getting good money for them, then the last minute decision on the Moto2 project, that was already in the last stages of completion, leaving several long standing clients in the lurch and finishing up with safety problems related to the connecting rods of the RSV4 Factory and RSV4-R which resulted in a recall of 335 bikes already sold in the States.

Now another problem, rumors from Italy are saying that Giampiero Sacchi, Aprilia’s director of the Piaggio Group racing operations, may be leaving the company.

Apparently Sacchi will not be present at the very high profile Aprilia-Alitalia Superbike team launch on February 9th, unthinkable considering Sacchi’s position in the company and that head honcho of both Piaggio and Alitalia Roberto Colaninno will be presenting.

Continue reading: Aprilia and Giampiero Sacchi To Split Up?

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Here’s a great challenge between the Ducati 1198 S, the Aprilia RSV4 Factory and the KTM RC8R. The Ducati is still a classy, impressive bike with heaps of torque, but if you love Aprilia, or are a KTM fan, this could be a very close call for you. The KTM RC8R V-Twin is a big effort from the company, and they deserve kudos for being able to compete with the experience of the likes of Ducati and Aprilia. Check it out in the video.

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There’s no official press release yet, but who needs it if Aprilia’s General Director Leo Mercanti personally says that Leon Camier is going to ride a factory Aprilia in world superbikes next season it’s got to be true, right?

“In my opinion he’s a good choice” said Mercanti who was at the Bangkok airport “he performed well in the races he did with us”.

The deal was already in the air and was to be confirmed after the RSV4 testing at the Misano race track last week that was cut short due to bad weather.

Reigning Britsh Superbike champ Leon Camier substituted injured Shinya Nakano in the final two rounds of the season and finshed 6th and 7th at Portimao, while his debut on the factory Aprilia at Magny Cours saw him retire from both races with mechanical problems. Camier will partner Max Biaggi in the team.

Source | gpone

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Leon Camier who was crowned the 2009 British Superbike Champion at Silverstone on Sunday will be replacing injured Shinya Nakano on the Aprilia RSV4 Factory.

According to Italy’s Motosprint, the Brit already has a contract from Aprilia to ride the last two rounds of the World Superbike Championship at Magny-Cours and Portimao alongside Max Biaggi.

The 22-year-old from Ashford, Kent in his third season of the BSB championship and with three rounds of the championship remaining he has already taken 17 race victories out of the 23 races to take place so far, with his Airwaves Yamaha beating the record of wins in a single season, which was 14.

Aprilia fielded Marco Simoncelli as Nakano’s replacement at the Imola last Sunday. The Italian rider DNF’d in Race 1, but in Race 2 took 3rd. Simoncelli will be back to his 250cc championship at Estoril this weekend.

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Aprilia’s PR department pulled a fast one yesterday. After announcing that Marco Simoncelli would be racing at the World Superbike round at Imola this weekend in their official press release, they also wrote that Simoncelli had lapped three tenths of a second faster than veteran rider Max Biaggi.

Biaggi, who was testing other material on the Aprilia RSV4, was not convinced about Simoncelli’s lap time and asked the team to check over the times and found that Simoncelli lapped one tenth of a second slower than he did.

Biaggi to say the least was slightly upset with Aprilia, stating: “They retouched the times to highlight Simoncelli’s partecipation and you can understand that isn’t very fair”.

Aprilia corrected their press release, but today in his personal website Biaggi explained the situation from his point of view:

Dear friends, the Mugello tests went well. As you’ve read there was a little problem about the times, that without any motive were purposely modified. Heaven forbid, a tenth or due doesn’t count especially while your testing, but I didn’t like it and I pointed it out to the person in charge. Naturally there wasn’t a conspiracy, just a little thoughtlessness, but those who know me understand how serious I’m about racing. Evidently someone forgot and we did our best to remind them. Racing is fun, but to have fun you have to be serious! Frankly, I don’t like sensationalism and motorcycle racing is so wonderful and exciting that it doesn’t need to be pumped up for the media.

Source | maxbiaggi.com and motoblog

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Surprising news is coming from Motosprint according to the Italian website 2250cc rider Marco Simoncelli seems to have accepted Aprilia Racing Team offer to race in this Sunday’s WSBK round at Imola.

Simoncelli has previously tested the Aprilia RSV4 Factory last November at Valencia, a gift from Aprilia and his Team Metis Gilera for his 2008 World title, but today he’s at the Mugello race circuit putting in some serious test time in order to prepare for Sunday’s race at Imola.

Aprilia called in Simoncelli to replace Shinya Nakano, who will not be riding in the next two races due to severe neck problems.

Source | motosprint

UPDATE:

According to Gpone, Simoncelli will be also testing tomorrow and will make a final decision tomorrow evening and Aprilia in the meantime has also called in Alex Hoffmann, their test rider.

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Tor Sagen from Raptors & Rockets has come up with this video of the Aprilia RSV4 Factory at the Misano World Circuit.

The best part is the roaring sound of this RSV4 Factory ripping around the track, so turn up the volume on your computer and maybe you can pretend to be riding behind or better yet in front of Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano for a couple of laps.

The Roman Emperor took the Aprilia RSV4 for their first ever victory in WSBK during Race 1 at Brno and a second place in Race 2.

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