Troy Corser's Aprilia RSV1000
after pre-season testing. Plus, it's a
Honda. The unconsidered Aprilia,
however, is a product of a company
that had yet to prove it could find
racing success with anything other
than a ring-ding rotary-valve twostroke GP racer. At the beginning of
the year, the ride was billed as somewhat of a consolation ride for Corser,
who had won the World Superbike
e-rown for Ducati in 1996, but was
controv siall ejected from the Italian factory s sct!
at the end of
1999.
c;r he
works Aprira RSV1000 that
U Troy Corser rode to third place in
last year's World Super 'ke Championship was the unexpected;revelation
of the 2000 racing season.
hile
eventual World Champion Co j
Edwards' Honda RC51 arguably
made even more of an impression by
winning the world title in its debut
year, the new Japanese V-twin was
heavily tipped to sweep to success
12
JANUARY 24,2001 •
cue
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e
n
e
_
s
Anyone who ever thought for a
moment that Corser was no longer a
contender, or who doubted Aprilia's
ability to make four-stroke V -twins
that can street-sweep the World
Superbike class, has had to revise
their opinions after the quiet 28-yearold Aussie's five race wins and four
pole positions on the "other" Italian
bike in 2000. Yet after Corser scored
what many were ready to write off as
a fortunate debut success in changeable track conditions a Phillip Island
...-"""'-'....--.1.; then cruised to victory in
Troy Corser rode the AprIl a RSV1000
to third place in last y ar's World
Superbike Champio.....lp. Alan
Cathcart was presented with the
opportunity to ricle-the bike at
Valencia in Spa . He jumped at the
chance.
both
es at Misano to establish
dauD e-up dominance on Ducati's
Home track, there were still those
prepared to insist that Aprilia was
lucky to get it right on the day.
They had to eat their words after
watching Corser make it three wins in
