The new RS4 50 and 125 Replica versions are a faithful reproduction of the Aprilia RSV4 SBK 2014, reigning Manufacturer World Champion bike, which Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli race in the World Superbike Championship.
The new RSV4 SBK, from the moment it was unveiled on the occasion of the first round of the 2014 calendar at Phillip Island, aroused an ovation of approval: in addition to the uncompromising sportiness of the bike that has won 5 world titles in four seasons, it now has an elegant and bold silver livery, a breathtaking line which has also been implemented in the new RS4 Replica.
The number “33” is specifically dedicated to the WSBK Aprilia standard bearer, Marco Melandri, former world champion with Aprilia in the 250 class in 2002 and runner-up in the 2005 MotoGP championship season. Marco Melandri had this to say: "Seeing the new RS4s took me back to my childhood when we all dreamed of riding the bikes that the great champions rode. They are really beautiful and the Superbike replica livery is spectacular! The only thing small about them is the engine capacity, but where everything else is concerned they are in no way inferior to their 'maxi' sisters."
The new RS4 50 and 125 pay tribute to Aprilia's unparalleled collection of competition titles: 52 world titles and hundreds of championship races won, numbers which, in its brief history, have made Aprilia one of the most decorated brands in the world with 294 GP races won, leading to maximum confirmation of champions of the calibre of Biaggi, Rossi, Capirossi, Melandri, Stoner, Lorenzo.

APRILIA STREET BIKES:
SMALL DISPACEMENT, BIG PERFORMANCES

Aprilia's successful history also traces its way through the small engine street bikes identified by the RS abbreviation, which have always been the most beloved entry level motorcycles by young people. After the affirmation of the sporty RS bikes, especially in the 125 version with 2-stroke engine (more than 100,000 units produced and sold since 1993 in more than 30 countries all over the world), Aprilia has completely revamped the range, introducing the new RS4 in 2011, a true sport bike inspired directly by the RSV4 project, the five-time World Superbike champion. Aprilia RS4 50 and RS4 125 are the heirs to this important lineage, becoming the sport bike most sought after by young people, who were immediately attracted to the performance of the new engines, the safety features and the sport riding characteristics, even if they are used for daily mobility.

RS4 TO THE TOP: REFINED TECHNOLOGY
WITH THE INNOVATIVE APRILIA QUICK SHIFT

The Aprilia RS4 Replica versions advance the concept of sport bikes for young people to maximum levels of technological refinement, implementing stylistic and technical solutions found in the RSV4. The RS4 “gaze” is immediately identifiable and, thanks to the particular headlight, it gives it a deeply aggressive look. The compact and sleek tail fairing is a true work of design and integrates the LED taillight. The passenger portion of the RS4 125 Replica saddle can be replaced with the removable single seater shell painted to match the body, a touch of sportiness inspired by racing bikes. The frame and engine emerge boldly as fundamental stylistic elements on these small Aprilia super sport bikes. On RS4 125 one additional detail underscores the level of sophistication of the bike: the exhaust, which is unmistakably inspired by competition machines, is completely integrated within the lower part of the fairing.
Aprilia is universally recognised as the manufacturer of ultra-fine chassis and the RS4 Replica versions are no exception. The frame is created based on the exceptional experience gained over the years in top level racing and it adopts die cast aluminium spars with crossed reinforcement ribs. A lightweight structure, but at the same time with torsional rigidity, capable of providing complete control even in track use. The is top level: the sturdy 41 mm upside down fork with black anodised sleeves has a stroke of 110 mm, while the rear monoshock is fixed directly to the asymmetrical swingarm.
Aprilia RS4 50 Replica and RS4 125 Replica share a braking system at the top of their class: the 300 mm steel disc at the front, gripped by a four piston radial calliper, works together with a 220 mm disc at the rear with a single piston calliper. The 17" wheel rims” with six spokes are shod with 100/80 rubber up front and 130/70 at the rear. The refined chassis house latest generation engines; the single cylinder 50cc unit developed by Aprilia for RS4 50 Replica is a water cooled two-stroke with reed valve induction, separate lubrication and mixing and a six speed gearbox.
The Aprilia RS4 125 Replica is powered by a 125cc 4 stroke, water cooled, single cylinder engine with four valves and electronic engine boasting a sophisticated double overhead camshaft (DOHC) valve timing system. This ensures not only the maximum power output permitted for the class, but also a smooth, linear delivery which is environmentally friendly, complying with the strictest emissions regulations.
In the catalogue of accessories dedicated to the Aprilia RS4 125 Replica you will also find – for the first time in this class - the innovative Aprilia Quick Shift system, a sophisticated technical solution that has been derived directly from its extraordinary big sister, the RSV4, which allows the rider to upshift without letting up off the throttle and without using the clutch, thereby making gear changes simpler and quicker.

Presented in Sardinia in the spring, the Aprilia Caponord 1200 ABS Travel Pack has just made its debut in the USA, where interest is growing in this type of motorcycle, known as an adventure bike. In keeping with this definition, the new Noale flagship was presented in a scenario characterized by a sense of adventure and a taste for travel: Arizona. Twelve journalists, from the top motorcycle publications, were invited to Prescott, a quiet town in Yavapai County.

IN THE COUNTY OF THE YAVAPAI PEOPLE

The area is famous for its Native American population: in fact, the State of Arizona has 22 recognised indigenous tribes, and the Yavapai Prescott Indian Reservation is just 2.4 miles from the Hassayampa Hotel, where the international press conference was held. The red brick building, with a vaguely “Victorian” look, was constructed in 1927 and is considered a site of historic interest. This is the starting point for the ride to Jerome, through the Chino Valley along Highway 89A, and back to Prescott along State Route 69, for a total of about 120 miles.
The journalists were welcomed by Piaggio Americas colleagues, who came down from New York, and the director of the Piaggio Group Advanced Design Center in Pasadena (California), Miguel Galluzzi. The competitive scenario and Aprilia’s “positioning” on the complex American market were the topics covered by Martinez, while Galluzzi illustrated the stylistic and functional thinking behind the design of the Aprilia Caponord, notably the RSV4 family feeling on the bike front, the short exhaust with its chrome tip, the choice of colours.

APRILIA CAPONORD 1200



Product Marketing Manager Marco Zuliani, an engineer based at Aprilia’s Italian headquarters in Noale, described the technical details of the Caponord, from the famous Aprilia Dynamic Damping suspension system to traction control, the choice of power distribution strategy, as well as details relating to the mechanics and the frame. The innovations sparked enormous interest among the journalists, who were particularly curious about the semi-active suspension system. To find out more about the significance of this Aprilia patent, they only had to wait until the next day.

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FROM PRESCOTT TO JEROME, HAIRPINS AND CANYONS

Departure at 8:30, beneath a clear sky and a sun heating up the sparkling air of this town located at an altitude of more than 5,000 feet, shining off the bright surfaces of the fleet of fourteen Caponord motorcycles lined up outside the hotel. From Prescott, we head for Flagstaff, crossing a canyon that provides a natural gateway into a boundless plain down the centre of which runs Highway 89. We ride down a deserted road, red granite towers in the distance and a goods train travelling parallel to the road at a speed of nearly 50 mph. We approach the mountains, and make our ascent towards Jerome. Here the landscape changes: we pass through pyramids of rock cut by a tongue of asphalt in perfect condition, which wraps round the mountain.

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Now the real fun begins, the pace speeds up, it’s time to change distribution strategy and give the Caponord the chance to show its potential. The bends follow fast one after the other, with sometimes highly imaginative curve radiuses, at least for European tastes. It’s a great ride and there’s a great air of satisfaction among the journalists when we reach Jerome. When we interview them, their first comments compliment the motorcycle’s sporty feel and the rapid action of the ADD suspensions, which make the bike fast, stable and extremely comfortable. The riding posture and the bike’s style, an expression of the Caponord’s sporty DNA, are particularly appreciated.

APRILIA PRESS EVENT - ARIZONA



We come down from the village of Jerome, past the copper mines, to take route 260 and reach Cottonwood, after which we head for the junction with the “one-six-nine”. The bends end here, and we return to the high plain road, in the company of huge trucks, with a powerful crosswind blowing. Sitting comfortably in the staff car, it’s disconcerting to watch the group of bikers ride at a slight angle to the perpendicular, to withstand the force of the wind coming from our left.
Riding in these conditions at 50-60 mph is truly tiring, and the group breaks up until we all meet again in Prescott. If the Caponord were not more than stable, we would probably have stopped or reduced speed dramatically. That was the general view expressed in front of a well-deserved ice-cold beer at the Assayampa bar, admiring a breath-taking sunset at the end of a splendid event organised by Piaggio Group Americas.

PHOTO CREDIT: KEVIN WING.

DISCOVERING YAVAPAI

INFO:
www.yavapai.us
www.ypit.com

COMMENTS:
THE SURPRISING APRILIA CAPONORD

"Some loves never end, they make long journeys and then return": Max Biaggi quotes Italian singer-songwriter Antonello Venditti in a tweet a few hours before his second test with the Aprilia ART at the Mugello race track. The ties between the Rome-born champion and the Noale constructor are not the classic rider-team relationship. Max won five of his six world titles on an Aprilia motorcycle, breaking one record after another. He secured Aprilia’s first title in the 250 class, and he was the first (and still the only) Italian on an Italian bike to win the World Superbike championship; above all, he was one half of a show-stopping duo that won the hearts of the fans. So it was a no-brainer for Aprilia to ask this special tester to try out the ART, the bike developed for the MotoGP world championship (in the Open category) and the first step in Aprilia’s official return to the top category of the world championship scheduled for 2016.
An initial test in mid-May, also at Mugello, was hampered by bad weather, and a second date was arranged. This time, at the beginning of July, the weather played no tricks, enabling Max to clock up a total of 176 laps in three days (the best time was 1'50.94) and successfully complete the planned schedule. Assisted by the team from his last World Superbike competition in 2012, Biaggi quickly built up speed and was able to provide important pointers for the Aprilia racing team, which, based on the experience acquired with the ART project, is working on the new MotoGP prototype. Indeed, new tests for the MotoGP racing program look likely.

MAX, BACK ON APRILIA ACCOMPANIED BY GREAT EXPECTATIONS. HOW DID IT GO?
“The verdict on the three days at Mugello is definitely positive. From all points of view: adaptation to the bike, to the tyres, to the brakes; not mention the physical effort, which, with so many laps, is an important factor, especially when you haven’t been on a motorcycle for a while. It certainly takes time to get your reflexes back, I know the DNA of the ART because it’s based on the RSV4, which gave me my last two world championship titles, but there are a lot of differences. We did a good job, we managed to test the various solutions, and I think I gave the team some significant input.”

HOW DID YOU FIND THE APRILIA ART?
“You can tell it’s based on the RSV4. I’m familiar with these sensations, having been involved in the development and victories of the Superbike. On the plus side, at all times I knew what to expect from the bike, so I wasn’t worried about “unexpected surprises”, and I was able to concentrate on the real test objectives.”

AS A RIDER AND WORLD CHAMPION, YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT LAP TIMES ARE. YOU WERE CERTAINLY FAST AT MUGELLO, DO YOU THINK IT’S POSSIBLE TO DO EVEN BETTER?
“The test wasn’t a question of lap time. The fact that we used few tyres, and rode more than 30 laps with a single set, was deliberate. First of all, it was important for me to regain my racer instincts (I hadn’t been on a motorcycle for some time), and to give Aprilia an opinion on the current bike and on the decisions that could be taken for the new MotoGP prototype. Sure, the lap time could be reduced; I know how that could be done, but, as I said, this test had other priorities for me and for Aprilia.”

WHAT WAS IT LIKE SEEING ALIGI DEGANELLO AND “YOUR” BOYS – WITH WHOM YOU WON THE WORLD SBK IN 2012 – BACK IN THE PITS?
“It was strange but great! Having the team from my last world championship with me for these tests felt almost as though I had never stopped racing. It was a clever choice, working with a proven team means you are faster and more effective. Aligi and I don’t have to say a lot, we understand each another at a glance. Too well, probably, I rode so many laps I was exhausted that evening!”.

MAX BIAGGI REALLY CAN’T STAND STILL…
“I can’t hide the fact that motor-racing is an important part of my life, and how could it be otherwise given all the emotions and satisfaction it’s given me in a career of more than twenty years. I don’t regret the decision to stop, I gave it a great deal of thought and I’m not sorry. But if an opportunity comes up to get back on a motorbike, especially with a clear plan and objective, then I’ll be there: physically I’m in good shape, I think I still have a lot to give the business, and helping Aprilia develop its MotoGP could be just the right challenge. After all, I’m used to challenges…”.

Three rounds of the World Superbike championship were held in quick succession between the end of June and mid-July before the summer break, after which the Aprilia Racing Team will be ready for the final events of the 2014 season. The next date is 7 September, at the Jerez race track in Spain.
Appearing twice on the podium in Misano, Marco Melandri confirmed the competitiveness re-established by his double victory in Sepang, Malaysia, while teammate Sylvain Guintoli defended his second place in the world championship scoreboard. The week-end was also notable for the “special” livery of the Aprilia RSV4, inspired by the graphics used in the 1986 MotoGP by Loris Reggiani’s “250”, which secured Aprilia’s first world victory at the Misano circuit.

In Race 1, Melandri was locked in with the group on the first bends and fought hard to climb up from eighth position to win third place and his first podium of the day. In Race 2, as Sykes led the field, the real battle that caught the imagination of the crowds was the duel between Melandri and Baz, with Marco eventually coming in third.

In both races, Sylvain Guintoli was up with the leaders, just missing the podium with a fifth and a fourth place, but successfully seeing off the attack from fellow Frenchman Baz to keep the second place in the championship scoreboard.
The Portimao weekend in Portugal closed with a surprise-packed Sunday. Race 1, which began under a menacing sky, saw Marco Melandri get off to a good start, while Sylvain Guintoli held on to fifth place in the early laps. A few drops of rain then upset all the best laid plans, with Sylvain speeding away fast and Marco slowed by a loss of grip on the rear wheel. The Ravenna rider continued to push all the same, barely missing the podium, while Guintoli took advantage of the difficult track conditions to make up ground and finish second.

The weather conditions worsened for Race 2, forcing the riders to use rain tyres and settings. With the distance reduced to 18 laps, both Marco and Sylvain rode a cautious early race, increasing the pace lap after lap and, after a series of peremptory passes, finding themselves close behind the fugitive Rea.
With a consistent gap in terms of race pace, the Aprilia riders closed in for the final attack. Unfortunately, on bend 5 in the 13th lap, Guintoli braked on the inside of Melandri but slid, taking Marco down. The unlucky collision brought Melandri’s race to an end, while Sylvain managed to remount and finished seventh.
Race 1 on the fascinating Laguna Seca race track in the USA was a triumph for Aprilia. Getting off to an excellent start, Melandri and Guintoli took the lead in the first lap, taking advantage of an uncertain Tom Sykes on the “Corkscrew”. All three riders immediately set a different rhythm to the rest of the field and gradually lengthened their lead. By mid race, the two Aprilia chargers, led by Melandri, strengthened their advantage over Sykes, with Melandri then imposing an unsustainable pace for his teammate in the second half of the race and going on to take his third victory in the season after the double win in Malaysia. For his part, Guintoli successfully saw off Sykes and scored a strong second place.



Race 2 was also dominated by Marco Melandri, who had achieved a firm lead before the race was suspended after Lowes’ fall. Melandri again took the helm after the second start, ahead of Sykes and Guintoli, but the race was suspended once more, after an accident involving Barrier. On the third start, Melandri sprang ahead of the field and established an authoritative lead. All the signs pointed to a second victory for the Ravenna racer – whose empathy with the reigning world champion RSV4 bike is growing race after race – when a skid five laps from the end put an end to his hopes of victory. The outcome did nothing to alter the verdict on Melandri, the real star of the Californian weekend. With just a few laps to go, Guintoli made another second place, confirming his impressive competitiveness and steady performance and strengthening his second-place ranking in the world scoreboard.

Here are the riders’ comments at the end of the US race.



MARCO MELANDRI


“I made an excellent start in Race 1, although I was worried on the first laps since Tom usually speeds ahead right from the start. When he made a mistake at the Corkscrew, I seized my chance. I established my rhythm, kept my focus and made no mistakes. Race 2 was a shame, after the third start I made some errors in the gear changes, which made me think the gear ratios were wrong, and I lost my concentration. When I realised everything was fine, I decided to push but took the last bend too long. It was a pity because we could certainly have had a double win, even so I’m pleased with how we worked this weekend.”

SYLVAIN GUINTOLI


“I gave the races everything I could as always, in Race 1 I was riding well and not making any errors. I felt great on the first laps and could have attacked Marco, but I preferred to stay behind him. In the second half of the race, he was really fast and riding really well, and I couldn’t match his times. The red flags in Race 2 reminded me of last year, I thought I could turn the tables, but Sykes is simply unbeatable over short distances. We’re up there, and we’re determined, but during the summer break we’ll have to work hard to come back even stronger for the end of the season.”

A mine of information is the best description for eniracing.com, a website dedicated to the Superbike world where Eni is an official supplier and sponsor of the Aprilia Racing Team, which is competing in the world championship with riders Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli. One of the eniracing site’s most popular features is the “In piega…con Marco Melandri” video blog: the Aprilia Racing champion explains the ins and outs of the SBK circuits, the bends and turns, revealing the secrets of each course, describing speeds and riding style, when to change gear. The videos, posted with English subtitles, are greatly entertaining: you could almost be there on the track with Melandri, astride the Aprilia SBK. Racing thrills are guaranteed!
Devotees haven’t missed a single blog, which began in April with the Aragon circuit in Spain, followed by the Assen course in the Netherlands; May was the turn of Imola in Italy and Donington in Britain; in June, it was off to the other side of the world for the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, then back to Italy and Misano. In July, races are being held in Portimao, Portugal, and Laguna Seca, in the USA. The SBK world championship resumes on 7 September, with the 10th race in the season, on the Spanish circuit in Jerez; the last three events will be in France (5 October, Magny Cours), South Africa (19 October, Phakisa Freeway), and in Qatar, on the Losail track, on 2 November.
Here are the video clips, beginning with the most recent.
INFO: www.eniracing.com

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Devotees of vintage Moto Guzzi motorcycles will not want to miss these videos illustrating the restoration of the V7 Ambassador of actor Ewan McGregor – a real Guzzi fan and the testimonial for the eagle brand. The restoration was handled by the Cycle Garden team (at Huntington Beach, California), who specialise in returning pre-1975 Guzzi bikes like the Ambassador, Eldorado, V700 and V7 Sport, which are widely used in the USA, to their original splendour.
If you are already familiar with the videos (almost 70,000 views), you’ll enjoy seeing them again; for everyone else, collectors and bikers, get comfortable and take a look at these clips showing Ewan and his superb V7 Ambassador with the expert mechanics at Cycle Garden. They start by restoring a completely rusty fuel tank.

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“Phenomenal teen ace rider Dashi Watanabe”: this is how the sports media describe the young Philippine champion, born in 1994. In 2013, riding an Aprilia RSV4, Dashi won the Philippine Superbike Championship to be crowned “Philippine SBK Rider of the Year”. This year he is making an impressive defence of his title, dominating his toughest rivals: his latest victory came at the end of June, when he won first place in the third round of the season, at the Clark International Speedway in Mabalacat (in the district of Pampanga). This was his third win this year, confirming his leadership of the 2014 SBK Championship scoreboard.
On bike no. 35, Dashi is riding for the second year for the Aprilia Philippines Racing Team, alongside teammate Anthony Roman. Dashi has been racing since he was a lad: first on Japanese motorcycles, winning attention in the Asian Road Race – in 2012, at 18, he raced in the Super Sports 600cc class – and then he moved to the superbike and began an extraordinary season. The Aprilia RSV4 has brought out the full power of his champion’s calibre: in 2013, his first year with the Italian bike’s Philippine team, he won everything in sight. This year, he certainly won’t want to disappoint the team and the growing numbers of fans: at each race in the 2014 national SBK championship, round after round, he has displayed determination and passion. “Good luck, phenomenon Dashi!”.

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• APRILIA PHILIPPINES RACING TEAM – 2013 SUPERBIKE CHAMPION
• Dashi's 2013 Aprilia RSV4 at the 7^th IR Bikefest

It’s not for the quality of the video, or the variety of shots: but there’s a truly exciting moment in this Guzzipower clip. It’s the moment when Ed Milich on a Moto Guzzi V65 completes his final overtake to secure victory in the classic motorcycle race on the Willow Springs racetrack in Rosamond, California. Thanks to the camera installed on Ed’s helmet, it feels as though you are there with Ed on the saddle of his splendid Moto Guzzi racer, a brilliant performer despite its age. With the MG V65, Ed Milich (San Francisco) has also won four editions of the annual Vintage Superbike races at the Daytona International Speedway.
For the record: the Willow Springs International Motorsports Park is an historic track, opened in 1953, which holds automobile, go-kart and motorcycle races; it has been a film location and is also a favourite choice of location for TV programs. The main circuit, known as the “Big Track”, has nine bends and is 4 kilometres long. The state of California has declared Willow Springs a “site of historic interest”.

Moto Guzzi V65 wins at Willow Springs