MotoGP: Aprilia debut 2018 machine

The Aprilia squad of Scott Redding and Aleix Espargaró have rolled out their 2018 machines at the team’s headquarters in Noale, showing off a bike that might be visually quite similar but is radically different under the skin.

And, after successful pre-season tests in Malaysia, Thailand and Qatar ahead of next weekend’s first round, team boss Romano Albesiano says the squad are now ready to race.

“The 2018 RS-GP is an in-depth optimisation and evolution of the concepts we had on the track last year. The frame is radically new, as is the airbox, the cooling system and the aerodynamics. The new project’s first positive step was the popularity with the riders during the winter tests. They both noticed straight away how much the bike has grown.

“This reaction is never a given when you introduce such significant changes, but it makes us optimistic for this new MotoGP season. I expect this to be an extremely demanding season. The level has been raised even farther in terms of both the bikes and the riders on the grid. On our part, we have all our papers in order to be contenders.”