Aprilia avoided falling into the lowest category of MotoGP concessions, but as a result, she missed the opportunity to develop.
Last weekend’s Czech MotoGP was a cutoff point until each manufacturer was locked into categories for the rest of the season.
Aprilia knew she needed to stay in KTM and Group C on Saturday and Sunday at BRNO and avoid relegation to the lower category, including Yamaha and Honda.
Inform Italian brands were able to achieve this easily.
Ironically, the drop to Group D means Apriria has added in-season tests with race riders, including Jorge Martin, who returned from injury at Brno, which means that extra laps are needed.
However, the team’s boss, Paolo Bonora, claimed he was happy to avoid a drop to Group D.
“I’m very confident about that. We’ll stay at the ‘C’,” Bonora told TNT Sports.
“The “D” ranking allows for more engines, more fairings and more testing. “But we want to be on top. We have worked for years to beat other competitors.
“We know there’s something to recover, there’s a gap. We know, but we bring in each session, races, races, new parts and new electronics.”
Aprilia vows to maintain “moment and mood”
Marco Betzecki
Aprilia has been looking at Ducati’s top competition in recent weeks.
Marco Bezzecchi won the UK MotoGP and took the podium with Assen and Brno.
Martin’s impressive return at Czech MotoGP offers optimism about what he might achieve after the summer break.
Even the trackhouse went up to the plate, with Raul Fernandez taking the top 10 finishes for four consecutive times.
Aprilia was given praise for the development of the package, supported by test rider Lorenzo Sabadoli, who represented absent Martin.
“We like to work with our feet on the ground, which is a very realistic goal,” Bonora said.
“To be honest, we want to keep this momentum and this mood in our garage.
“I am sure most of the work is done by the riders and their feelings.
“Riders can put 100% of their energy on their bikes.
“We don’t want to put a lot of expectations from them.”