Aprilia Shows Glimmers of Progress Amid Challenging Misano MotoGP Sprint

"Indications of progress" in "challenging" Misano MotoGP sprint for Aprilia

Aprilia observes advancements despite not scoring in the sprint

The technical director of Aprilia, Romano Albesiano, mentioned that the team observed "some signs of improvement" even though they did not earn any points during the MotoGP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix sprint race.

In recent weeks, Aprilia's performance has significantly declined, with their top RS-GP finishing a far-off 10th place at the Aragon GP and even further back in 11th place at the San Marino GP.

The Aprilia team has faced challenges maintaining speed on both low and high-grip tracks. However, adjustments made to enhance braking stability during the Misano test seem to have benefited the Italian manufacturer during the Emilia Romagna GP weekend.

None of the Aprilia riders managed to earn any points during Saturday's sprint race. Maverick Vinales, riding the RS-GP, was the top performer for the team, finishing in 10th place. Compared to the sprint at the San Marino GP, Vinales was only a few seconds behind the leader this time.

Albesiano thinks that the fact his factory riders started in eighth and 11th place was a factor in Aprilia not earning points on Saturday. However, he also believes that there has been real progress.

He acknowledged that the race was challenging, but expressed optimism by noting some progress on a track that typically poses significant difficulties for them.

"The lap times are comparable to those of the group that is immediately following the leading duo."

“It’s evident that we faced consequences due to our starting position and the early scramble in the first few turns.”

"Regardless, we must continue our efforts to enhance a few areas we've pinpointed. For the extended race, we'll aim to make further progress."

Aleix Espargaro, finishing in 12th place behind Trackhouse Racing's Miguel Oliveira, mentioned that he and Vinales employed entirely distinct setups during their practice sessions.

Nevertheless, they agreed on the sprint configuration since they were unable to make substantial progress in catching up with the leaders' speed.

Espargaro mentioned that he and Maverick experimented with entirely different setups on both Friday and Saturday.

"However, for the sprint race, we chose to begin with nearly identical setups since we couldn't discover any adjustments that would enable us to compete with the leading racers."

"Our speed during the race is quite decent, though we still have a long way to go to match the top competitors."

Vinales is confident he can perform well on Sunday afternoon, given that the medium rear tyre is expected to be the favored choice for the grand prix.

Vinales pointed out that his starting position was what put him at a disadvantage.

"Starting closer to the front of the grid significantly impacts performance here in Misano."

"During the qualifying rounds, I couldn't stand out, and sadly, this affected the overall outcome."

"We need to remain hopeful and continue our efforts for the extended race. Regardless, I feel confident with the medium tires and believe I can perform well."

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