IN
THE
WIND
P26
He agreed that Honda was "disappointed at
the different level of the Open machines," particu-
larly the Yamaha, though he pointed out that the
RCV1000R was at least far superior to the CRT
hangovers run by the Kawasaki powered Avin-
tia team and the Aprilia powered Ioda and PBM
teams.
Next year's RCV would have the benefit of pneu-
matic valve springs, but will not have the seamless-
shift gearbox.
Asked by this reporter why he had not upgrad-
ed this year's engine, after Yamaha's Open bike
turned out to be all but a factory machine, Naka-
moto affected not to understand … but team mar-
keting director Livio Suppo later filled in the gaps.
"The idea for Open bikes was that they should
be sold and not leased, and the RCV was built
to be sold." But the regulations were not clearly
framed, which is why Yamaha was able to lease a
factory bike to NGM Forward (much to the benefit
of Aleix Espargaro).
"It would have been vastly expensive and im-
practical to change course and manufacture more
factory engines during the season," Suppo said.
Michael Scott
MELANDRI RETURNS TO MOTOGP?
A
prilia is expected to
return to MotoGP
next year rather than the
projected date of 2016—
an expectation reinforced
by the company's Sport-
ing Director, Romano Al-
besiano, who was at the
Brno GP.
Albesiano told the Dor-
na website, "We originally
planned to come back to
MotoGP in 2016." But the
team recently said it has
been considering return-
ing next year, possibly
with a full Factory entry,
or with a supported Open
team.
Aprilia would use pneumat-
ic valve springs and was de-
veloping its own version of a
seamless-shift gearbox—a con-
tinuation of work started by Gigi
Dall'Igna before he jumped ship
to join Ducati.
What he did not reveal was a
rider line-up, but paddock sourc-
es suggest that current satel-
lite Honda rider Alvaro Bautista
would head the effort, alongside
the returning Marco Melandri.
There will be room on the grid
with the withdrawal of the British
PBM team, which has confirmed
its withdrawal from MotoGP.
Michael Scott
Will Marco Melandri return to MotoGP with Aprillia in 2015?
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
