SYLVAIN GUINTOLI'S APRILIA RSV4
RACER TEST
P98
turn, as well as a broader spread
of midrange torque. Like when
exiting the Casanova right-hander
at Mugello and plunging down-
hill through the Savelli sweeper
before shifting up a gear—your
signal to do so is the row of five
green shifter lights on the dash
which light up all together at
15,200 revs, telling you to change
the gear now!
The ultra-distinctive flat drone
from the Aprilia's carbon-wrap
Akrapovic exhaust alters an oc-
tave in pitch as you shift up wide
open without touching the clutch
lever, as per normal with the slick
powershifter. But then when the
time comes to stand on the ef-
fective Brembo Monobloc brakes
for the second-gear Scarperia
chicane, you just keep your hand
clamped to the left handlebar and
resist any temptation to touch
the clutch lever. Then just tap the
race-pattern gearshift with your
toe as the V4 engine gives a me-
lodic little blip and let the Aprilia's
brilliantly programmed auto-
blipper do its job in downshifting
while you just focus on getting
your line right. Magic!
Indeed, the whole Aprilia
engine package is so strong,
providing outstanding drive out
of a turn practically irrespective
of how many revs you throw at
it. I tried lapping Mugello pre-
dominantly in third gear first of
all, then used fourth in a couple
of places, but without going any
faster. It was better to hold a gear
for several corners in succession,
to surf that mile-wide ocean of
"WE SIMPLY SET OUT
TO PRODUCE A GREAT
STREETBIKE WHICH
GAVE BIRTH TO A
SUPERBIKE RACER
WHICH IS FULLY
COMPLIANT WITH
THE RULES, AND HAS
NOW PROVED THREE
TIMES IT'S THE BEST
SUPERBIKE MONEY
CAN BUY."
– ROMANO ALBESIANO
The Aprilia
changes direction
from side to side
easily, making it
less tiring to ride.
