### “Aprilia’s Carbon Fibre MotoGP Frame Still in the Works; 2027 GPS Sharing Set to Enhance Racing Spectacle

Title: Aprilia's Carbon Fibre MotoGP Frame in Development; 2027 GPS Sharing to Enhance Spectacle

Content: Aprilia's MotoGP chassis made from carbon fibre is currently in the developmental phase and is not yet suitable for racing. According to the team, the new chassis design presents entirely different characteristics compared to previous models.

In a surprising move nearly a year ago, Lorenzo Savadori was seen testing a carbon fiber chassis on Aprilia's RS-GP MotoGP bike during a private session at Misano.

It quickly became evident that Aprilia wasn't the only team developing a composite frame, a technology last seen in MotoGP during Ducati's 2009-2011 seasons. Just weeks later, KTM's wild-card rider Dani Pedrosa was spotted with a carbon fiber chassis at the San Marino race.

The Spanish rider nearly secured a podium finish with the carbon fiber, and KTM’s official racers also approved it during the Monday testing session, where Aprilia's racers tested their carbon fiber frame as well. The carbon fiber appeared again at the post-season test in Valencia.

However, although KTM transitioned all of its racing riders to carbon fiber for 2024, Aprilia's newest RS-GP continues to feature a traditional aluminum construction.

"It's currently in the development phase," Marco de Luca, who leads the Vehicle Department at Aprilia Racing, said to Crash.net when inquired about the progress of the factory's carbon fiber initiative. "We're still considering it. However, for now, we choose not to use it in races."

Though de Luca did not provide specifics, he hinted that replacing aluminium with carbon fibre on the RS-GP might be more complicated than KTM's transition from a steel trellis frame.

"KTM employs a distinctive frame design, following a unique concept and philosophy. Our bike's design is special and, while I wouldn't necessarily call it more complex to convert to carbon fiber, it's not simply a matter of replicating what is done in aluminum with carbon fiber the next day."

“This is entirely distinct. Technically, it could be beneficial, but we’re not prepared to implement it right now.”

When asked about the benefits of carbon fiber, de Luca responded:

"The most apparent issue is weight, but that's not the only concern. We also face various technical challenges, along with some benefits we've identified. Moreover, we encounter obstacles in consistently producing something that can be reliably manufactured."

The production of numerous frames requires a high degree of precision, with each frame needing to be almost identical, with less than a 1% variance. Carbon fibre technology is somewhat more fragile, necessitating further research.

According to de Luca, a carbon fiber frame goes through at least a year of development work before it is ever displayed to the public.

"You should begin this process at least a year in advance, if not earlier," he mentioned. "This is particularly crucial if you're undertaking it for the first time, similar to our transition from using an aluminum swingarm to a carbon fiber one."

"Aprilia made a second effort after their initial trial didn't succeed. They tested the first version but didn't reach the finish line. We then restarted the project, and after a year, we hit the track with a product that we are continuing to improve even today."

"We are constantly refining the framework, the idea, and the design, even for things that seem fairly standard now. There is an ongoing effort to improve aspects like weight, rigidity, durability, and materials."

"This technology is highly intricate."

2027 MotoGP Regulations: Lower Fuel Consumption Seen as 'More Economical', GPS Integration Deemed 'Enhancing for Entertainment'

When asked about the various changes to technical regulations set for 2027 that could impact performance, such as reducing engine size from 1,000cc to 850cc, de Luca, who participated in the talks, commented:

“Without a doubt, we had to implement something to slightly reduce performance.

“Aprilia had some reservations about the engine capacity alteration.”

"Similar to some of my coworkers, we believed that we could achieve nearly the same outcome at a lower cost."

When asked about the possible reasons for the current engines experiencing significant drops in performance, one of the top suggestions was cutting down on fuel capacity.

“You can lower the energy, but then you might face challenges with qualifying specifications compared to race specifications,” he mentioned.

Regarding aerodynamics, a field in which de Luca specialized during his tenure in Formula One, he cautioned:

"I've been involved in Formula One for many years, and whenever new rules are introduced, they're just a temporary hurdle in the development process before things move forward again."

However, he anticipates that it will require "perhaps a year and a half or two years" to regain the lost downforce due to the reduced size of the front fairings. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the design objectives will have shifted:

"The aerodynamic properties ought to differ, as it doesn't seem logical to maintain identical figures to today's, given the reduction in power."

"You must find a balance, but achieving that requires significant development. This means investing both money and time!"

Importantly for Aprilia, a leader in MotoGP's 'ground effect' technology which involves compressing and speeding up the air between the bike's side and the track to generate downforce during steep lean angles, there will be no additional limitations on the design of side fairings.

"It was definitely challenging to keep this, trust me," de Luca confessed, implying that Aprilia had to struggle to keep the ability to design the sides of the motorcycle.

"In the end, ground effect is a concept that other bikes have now generally adopted in a similar manner."

"It's fascinating to observe the various interpretations of this. Some are more aligned with our views, while others differ significantly… Intriguing."

Looking ahead to the future exchange of GPS data among teams, de Luca admitted that it will simplify data access, which is currently gathered by more complex methods like video analysis.

He explained that everyone has their own intricate ways of figuring out what others are up to, and with GPS technology, this information becomes public. This makes it simpler, more accurate, and less costly to achieve what we are currently doing.

"In my opinion, it enhances the excitement since it allows a trailing manufacturer to catch up more swiftly, leading to a more evenly matched competition."

"At the moment, we analyze various sections of the track and observe different riders. We attempt to piece everything together. Everyone engages in this practice…"

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