Michael Laverty to test Aprilia ART after Misano race

Michael Laverty will have the chance to compare the British-built PBM frame he has been racing in the 2013 MotoGP world championship against the Aprilia ART machine in a post race test at Misano next Monday.

The Irish rider impressed when he rode an Aprilia ART in the opening winter test at Sepang in Malaysia in February before he switched to Paul Bird’s frame, which is designed and built by GPMS.

Racing at the highest level in the world while trying to develop a brand new chassis has made it a tough rookie campaign for former BSB title contender Laverty, who has managed to score points just once in the opening 12 races.

Laverty though will get the chance to lap on the Aprilia ART bike campaigned by teammate Yonny Hernandez at Misano in a bid to gauge the current level of the PBM frame and what future developments need to be undertaken to make it more competitive.

Laverty told MCN: “We’ve got a test coming up after Misano, and I’m looking forward to that. At that test I’ll get to ride the ART bike again for a few hours to understand how far off it we are and where the weaknesses are. I’m really looking forward to that. It will be nice to jump on a proven machine and say ‘this is the area where that bike is massively better and this is what we need to work at.’