VOL. 52 ISSUE 10 MARCH 10, 2015 P35
APRILIA MOTOGP LIVERY UNVEILED
S
tepping up to MotoGP a year
earlier than planned, the
Factory Aprilia squad unveiled
the team's livery for the 2015
season. The two-man team of
Alvaro Bautista and Marco Me-
landri will lead Aprilia's efforts in
its development year before the
factory introduces a Full Factory
prototype bike in 2016.
"We chose to move up our
start date, getting into the mix in
the 2015 MotoGP World Cham-
pionship because we believe
that this is the solution which is
certainly the most risky but also
the best one to become com-
petitive as quickly as possible,"
said Aprilia Racing Manager
Romano Albesiano via team
release.
On board with Aprilia is
Gresini Racing's Team Manager
Fausto Gresini. The two-time
World Champion looks forward
to a new challenge and supports
Aprilia's decision to jump into
the fray.
"I couldn't have imagined
anything more stimulating for
someone like me who lives and
breathes racing passion," Gresi-
ni said. "I agree one hundred
percent with Aprilia's choice to
jump straight into the mix. Rac-
ing against adversaries who are
already extremely competitive is
without a doubt a difficult task,
but it is also the quickest way
to develop. We can also count
on two expert riders we know
very well. This is another factor
that will help us to streamline the
growth process even more."
as possible," affirmed the plain
speaking Dutchman. "If we were
top 10, top five or winning, that
aspect does not change an aw-
ful lot. But it is a lot nicer to be at
the front. The motivation comes
from within. Having a Dutch guy
on board for sure is nice, be-
cause there is a lot more patting
on the shoulders of the indi-
vidual people. But it does not
change an awful lot. It does not
mean that we can spend more
money or more sponsorship has
been coming in, nothing like it."
There was one difference
however, with having a Dutch
rider in the World Superbike
garage for the first time.
"We have also lost our little
secret language," joked Ten
Kate. "In the past, every now
and then we could communicate
in our little secret language. We
cannot do a 'quick one' in front
of the rider anymore!"
Gordon Ritchie
Aprilia unveiled its
livery for its MotoGP
(left Melandri and
right Bautista) debut
this season.
PHOTOGRAPHY
COURTESY
OF
APRILIA
