2013 Aprilia RSV4 ridden

This is what motorcycling dreams are made of: a sunny day, a dry track and one of the world’s best superbikes to play on. I’m talking about the lightly-revised new 2013 Aprilia RSV4 Factory APRC. It’s available from the dealers next Feburary and costs the same as the current model – £16,599.

You’re not going to feel the new bike’s extra 4bhp, or the smoother traction control, unless you test it against the old one, and on this dry and grippy racetrack I never tested the ABS, except when i stamped on the rear brake.

The new Aprilia isn’t a huge leap forwards, except for the ABS, which is a no brainer for the road, but it doesn’t need to be; it was a fantastic machine in the first place.

It doesn’t have the insane speed in a striahgt line of a BMW S1000RR or a Ducati Panigale, but the Aprilia’s handling is sweet, it sounds incredible, and it has the most refined electronic rider aids of any motorcycle.

Best of all, for nearly everyone it’s better than the factory World Superbike Aprilia RSV4 – unless your name is Max Biaggi or Eugene Laverty.

For more details on the new bike including specs and a side-by-side comparison of Eugene Laverty’s WSBK Aprilia pick up a copy of the October 24 issue of MCN, out now