Category: Superbikes

1. APRILIA RACING TEAM GRESINI - Americas Race

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 3rd Oct 2021

   ESPARGARÓ'S GP ENDS ON THE NINTH LAP IN TEXAS

   ALEIX HAD MANAGED TO WORK HIS WAY UP SEVEN POSITIONS WHEN A CRASH ENDED HIS RACE
   
   A crash during the ninth lap with no physical consequences for the rider brought the GP of the Americas to an end for Aleix Espargaró.

   After starting from the seventh row - evidence of a consistently difficult weekend - Aleix began to move up through the positions. Even without pushing too hard, he had already moved up seven places all the way to twelfth when he fell victim to the crash. This ended a seemingly parenthetical weekend in an otherwise fantastic season for Aleix and his Aprilia RS-GP. But even on the only track on the calendar where he was never able to find that competitive edge, Aleix Espargaró was still riding a respectable race.

   Now the goal is to recover energy - both physical and mental - and to get back to the trend of positive growth that has characterised his season thus far in order to best tackle the final three races of the championship.
   
   
   ALEIX ESPARGARO'
   "I am truly disappointed. Not so much for the crash, which is always a possibility in racing, but certainly not when you’re riding with such high lap times. Unfortunately, something just didn't work this weekend and we need to take a deeper look at that. Until now, we have been competitive everywhere, with various results but consistently battling in the group of the best. I want to apologise to the team. Five crashes in three days are definitely not a good record and both they and the engineers have worked nonstop throughout the weekend. The goal was to stay calm and aim for the best possible result, which was the points zone for us today. We were doing just that before the crash, which fortunately came without any physical consequences."

2. APRILIA RACING TEAM GRESINI - Americas Qualifying

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 2nd Oct 2021

   DIFFICULT QUALIFIERS FOR ALEIX AND APRILIA AT COTA
   
   The Circuit of the Americas proves once again to be a tough nut to crack for Aleix Espargaró astride his Aprilia. Calling the asphalt bumpy would be a huge understatement and it keeps the Spaniard from exploiting the strong points of the RS-GP. Despite making considerable progress in terms of the settings, which was especially clear in FP4, a couple of crashes at decisive moments further complicated the day.

   For the first time this season, Aleix was unable to go through to Q2 due to finishing outside the top 10 in the first three sessions and not getting through the selection stage of Q1 due to a crash. These statistics confirm the abnormal situation generated by the Texan circuit in a season where Aleix is lying seventh in the overall championship standings.

   So, for a race that promises to be a complicated one, Espargaró will be starting from the best spot on the seventh row of the grid.
   
   ALEIX ESPARGARO'
   "This has certainly not been the best weekend for us so far. The RS-GP is competitive everywhere, but this asphalt that is in such bad condition really puts us in a rough spot. Not only do I not have the pace that I had been able to maintain until now, but as soon as I try to push, I risk crashing, like what happened today. I apologise to the entire team. They are already working hard to fix the bike for tomorrow. We’ll test a few things in the warm-up session as well to try to make the bike easier to ride and more stable. The track is the same for everyone, so it won’t be easy, but we’ll have to make a go of it and shoot for the best possible result."

3. Aprilia RS 660's domination in MotoAmerica

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 23rd Sep 2021

   THE MIDDLE CLASS OF THE AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP DOMINATED BY KALEB DE KEYREL AND HIS RS 660

   10 WINS, 16 PODIUMS AND 6 POLES IN 13 RACES, 68 POINTS AHEAD OF THE SECOND PLACED RIDER: A SEASON TO REMEMBER

   
   The title was already in the bag after the penultimate round of the championship, given the advantage accumulated by champion Kaleb De Keyrel during the 2021 season of the MotoAmerica championship, Twins Cup category. Kaleb and the new Italian twin-cylinder Aprilia RS 660 dominated the season with 234 points, 68 more than his closest rival.

   But the overall numbers after the last race in Alabama are even more impressive. Aprilia's new lightweight sportsbike took victory in 10 of the 13 heats, spread over 9 stages. Added to this are 16 other podiums (9 second, 7 third places) and 6 pole positions. Podiums occupied entirely by Aprilia RS 660s were not uncommon, as in the debut race in Atlanta, in Monterey or in both races held in New Jersey.

   The Aprilia RS 660 proved to be a versatile bike, capable of winning on extremely different circuits and with riders with different riding characteristics. Even without particularly thorough preparation, since the MotoAmerica Twins regulations, recognising the Italian bike's great technical qualities already in the street version, apply a "balance of performance" system, limiting the interventions possible in all areas: chassis, electronics and engine.

   At the end of the season, it's already time to look ahead to the next championship, with a dual objective. While the aim is obviously to confirm the 2021 title, at the same time the number of riders and teams equipped with the Aprilia RS 660 will increase. But first, the winner Kaleb De Keyrel will face the specialists of the Italian Trofeo RS 660 in the last round at Vallelunga.

4. GRESINI RACING UNVEILS 2022 MOTO2 PROJECT

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 18th Sep 2021

   Team Gresini confirms its commitment to the Moto2 class of the MotoGP World Championship and next year will be at the starting blocks with two series rookies: Alessandro Zaccone and Filip Salac.
   
   For Alessandro Zaccone, this is a return home as the Italian was already part of the #GresiniFamily in 2020 in the MotoE category. The twenty years old Italian is only 22, but with a wealth of experience on his side: he already raced with good results in the CIV, in the CEV and in the World Championship and he is currently among the title contenders in MotoE, with the title battle being decided this very weekend at Misano.
   
   Filip Salac will be on the opposite side of the garage: another young rider (19 years old) who is ready to make the jump to the new category after three years in Moto3, in which so far he has been able to collect 108 points. His highlights have been a podium in Le Mans (2nd place) and a pole position at the Sachsenring.
   
   Both riders will keep their traditional numbers, with the riders confirming #12 on his front fairing and Zaccone making his debut in the middleweight class with his #61. And this is not all, because starting from next season will have a new head of operations, as Luca Gresini will take the reins of the team in the intermediate class.
   
   
   ALESSANDRO ZACCONE #61
   “First of all, I’d like to say that I’m super happy to return to the track with Gresini Racing and especially in the Moto2 class. This has been my target for many years and I’m finally getting the opportunity I’ve been looking for quite a long time. I’m sure we’ll have the best package at our disposal, and I believe that racing with an Italian team like Gresini is the best way to enter this new category. I’m sure we won’t waste this big opportunity and I would like to thank the Gresini family for it.”
   
   FILIP SALAC #12
   “I’m extremely happy to join Gresini Racing, a team I consider among the best in the paddock and one that has plenty of experience in this category. Honestly, I can’t wait for 2022 to begin in order to make the jump into the new category. It means a lot to me, with MotoGP getting a bit closer. I will give my best to show what I’m capable of.”
   
   NADIA PADOVANI GRESINI – TEAM OWNER & TEAM PRINCIPAL
   “I’m very happy to announce that we will again be on track next year in the intermediate class with two strong and young riders such as Alessandro Zaccone and Filip Salac. It was important to confirm our presence in Moto2, a historical class for Gresini Racing which will see Luca Gresini as Team Manager. We strongly pushed for this project, and I must thank the whole Gresini Racing team for the huge work done during these months that allowed us to confirm Moto2 alongside MotoGP.”
   
   #CiaoFausto❤️

5. Aprilia RS 660 wins in MotoAmerica

   Posted on 11:00am Tuesday 14th Sep 2021

   APRILIA RS 660 DOMINATES THE TWINS CUP CLASS IN MOTOAMERICA

   KALEB DE KEYREL IS 2021 CHAMPION THANKS TO HIS SECOND PLACE IN NEW JERSEY

   TOMMASO MARCON WINS ON HIS DÉBUT WITH APRILIA
   
   It’s fair to refer to Aprilia’s adventure in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup class as domination. In fact, in its début year, the RS 660 literally changed the face of the category, turning up in the paddock with almost no preparation, but immediately taking on a highly prominent role.

   It is no coincidence that the title was clinched with a Race 1 podium in New Jersey that was monopolized by the Italian twin-cylinder and where second place finisher Kaleb De Keyrel earned the points he needed to be crowned the 2021 champion. This is a triumph that will take him to Italy for a wild-card spot in the last round of the Aprilia RS 660 Trophy in Vallelunga.

   Credit goes to De Keyrel and Team Robem Engineering, who skillfully exploited the technical potential of the RS 660, which proved to be in its element right away on the demanding American tracks. This is a testament to its DNA which, although intended for the best possible street use, in no way betrays its competitive nature. The ideal compromise between light weight, power, and the proverbial chassis structure from Noale.

   The perfect weekend was topped off by Race 2, with no fewer than four RS 660 bikes in the top four spots. Winning the race was Italian Tommaso Marcon, riding in a special wild-card spot and tester for the 660 project, ahead of Anthony Mazziotto and fifteen-year-old surprise Maxwell Toth, on the podium twice in his Twins Cup "first".