The best in world production was on display at EICMA 2013 – the International Motorcycle Exhibition (Milan Fair, 5-10 November). The 71st edition was organised on a 280,000 square metres internal and external surface area; 1,408 motorcycle brands were present, from 38 countries, and four delegations (China, Taiwan, USA and the UK). The show attracted an international public of more than 550,000 visitors, up from the previous edition, as well as almost 7,000 communication experts.


The Piaggio Group was present at the world’s most important two-wheeler show with all its brands and top-of-the-range products, on a stylish stand dominated by a central circular shop whose windows showcased the new Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi lifestyle and accessories collections.


The EICMA opening ceremony officially launched the celebrations for the Milan show’s centenary next year. There was great applause for champion Marco Melandri and his return to Aprilia, which came to the EICMA international showcase as SBK 2013 World Champion Manufacturer. Marco won the world motorcycle championship with Aprilia in 2002, in the 250 category, and will ride the RSV4 during the SBK 2014 season, at the side of teammate Sylvain Guintoli.

World preview for the Vespa Primavera. The stage of the Piaggio Group EICMA stand was dominated by a giant circular structure emblazoned with the words Vespa Primavera world premiere, which was then raised to unveil the new Vespa scooter to a throng of reporters, photographers and TV operators from all over the world.


The press conference was opened by Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno: “Today we are presenting an extraordinary product at this world event, following on from the recent US launch of the Vespa 946 in New York, which has been a success beyond our expectations. The Vespa is an inimitable product: this year we’ll sell 170,000 (more than in 2012). So what is the secret of its success? The Vespa is a universal product, it belongs to the whole world, it’s youthful, it makes people happy, it lets them forget about their daily worries. Looking ahead,” Colannino continued, “Piaggio is staking everything on an extraordinary innovation, something even the most brilliant minds could not imagine today. A technology we want to apply to our engines, the result of advances in the USA, Japan, Germany and Italy. We shall be working on this and we shall astonish you, just as we have with the Vespa, ever since 1946: a product on the crest of the wave for decades that has always renewed and improved itself year after year. This means its designer was a genius. We want to keep faith with our industrial history, and anticipate the future. Tomorrow’s world will need a new form of transport, a vehicle that is fun to ride but can also move through traffic in cities struggling with problems like congestion, pollution, risks to safety. Over the next few years, we want to develop an innovation that cuts consumption, eliminates pollution and lets people travel safely in major cities like São Paulo, Cairo, Beijing, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, where millions of people move around every day. Piaggio will focus on the technological development of motorbikes and scooters, and, above all, on cutting-edge engine technologies.”
Aprilia in MotoGP in 2016. On a still difficult market, competitiveness depends on flexibility: over the last few years, operations on the motorcycle market have been very challenging. “We want Aprilia to deliver maximum technological performance, just as Moto Guzzi has done,” said Colaninno. “In 2016 Aprilia will return to Motorcycle World Championship (MotoGP), to be a winner, as it is in the Superbike championship. Over the next two years, we shall be hard at work on bike and engine development, to take the lead at the front of the field and meet the changing needs of young users. This is a stimulating, if not easy goal. Also, we have built a research and design centre in Pasadena, California, which gives us a window on the two-wheeler world in 5 or 10 years. We have opened factories in India and Vietnam, our hubs on the huge Asian markets. We know we can win and we are here today to launch the Vespa Primavera, an extraordinary scooter combining technology, design, fashion, fun, appeal. A product that is part of the history of Italy, part of people’s dreams and imagination.”


After the projection of the official Vespa Primavera video (shot in Venice, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Rome), the designers Marco Lambri (Piaggio Group Design Centre) and Miguel Galluzzi (Pasadena Research & Design Centre) appeared on the stage, with Leo Mercanti (2 Wheeler Product Marketing) for a detailed presentation of the new Vespa Primavera. A film shot in the Piaggio plants in Pontedera, Tuscany, explained how and where the scooter was developed, two other films presented the colour range and the history of the Vespa Primavera from its debut in 1968 to today’s latest arrival (on the stage, an exhibit of vintage vehicles illustrated the extraordinary story of the Italian brand).
Then it was the turn of motor-racing fans, with Marco Melandri and Romano Albesiano (director of Aprilia Racing and Motorcycle Technical Centre). In the words of the champion: “Aprilia has given me a lot and I’m delighted to come back to race for a great name and the current SBK champion.” Albesiano promised that Aprilia Racing would do everything possible to help Melandri beat his rivals, with further developments and fine-tunings for the champion bike. Marco has already tried the RSV4: “The bike is compact, the engine is smooth, and has a great feel; I felt at ease immediately.” Chairman and CEO Roberto Colaninno commented: “An extraordinary bike, an extraordinary rider”. And an absolute desire to win.
At EICMA, Piaggio was also present in the Green Planet area, with the Green Business Solution range: the Piaggio MP3 Hybrid 300 i.e. and the Piaggio Liberty e-mail, the nimble zero-emissions electric scooter for post offices.
The EICMA show is an autumn event, but along the entrance path into the Fair exhibition halls, journalists and visitors were greeted by spring – the Primavera! Highly coloured billboards presented the new Vespa, with the cheeky question: “Haven’t we met before?”.

GUINTOLI AND APRILIA RSV4 AT THE “SALON DE LA MOTO” IN PARIS

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The Piaggio Group was also present at the Paris "Salon de la Moto" (from 3 to 8 December 2013, at Porte de Versailles Paris Expo Centre), with the all new 2014 ranges of motorcycles and scooters.
At the Paris Bike Show the Piaggio Group has introduced the most recent Aprilia and Moto Guzzi motorcycles. Aprilia offers true examples of uncompromising sportiness: Aprilia Tuono V4 R ABS, the naked super sport with revamped ergonomics and power and now equipped with ABS, as well as the World SBK dominator, the Aprilia RSV4 m.y. 2014 in both the R and Factory versions. Moto Guzzi strengthens its leadership in the large cruiser segment with the luxurious California 1400 in its two Touring and Custom "spirits"; as well as introducing the revamped 2014 medium sized V7 range.
Guest of honour for the Aprilia brand and its RSV4, the bike that won the 2013 season Manufacturer Superbike World Championship: Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli participated as representative of the Aprilia Racing which has also enlisted the services of Marco Melandri for next season.
With 52 world titles won in twenty years, five world titles won in the last four Superbike seasons, Aprilia takes to the track and the market in the 2014 season with its own extraordinary V4 engine, a true technological trademark of the brand from Noale, where engineers are also hard at work today developing the bike which will be destined to compete in MotoGP.

Aprilia was the star of the show at EICMA 2013, riding the wave of enthusiasm generated by its recently won SBK World Champion Manufacturer title. A confirmation of the outstanding competitiveness of Aprilia Racing, the Group’s racing division, whose latest victory takes the total of SBK world titles to 5 in the last 4 seasons (3 manufacturers and 2 riders), and raising its overall number of world titles to 52. A track record that makes Aprilia one of the most successful names in the history of motorcycle racing ever. At the EICMA International Motor Show in Milan (7-10 November 2013), Aprilia displayed all the new entries in its 2014 range: in pole position the Tuono V4 R ABS, the RSV4 R ABS and the RSV4 Factory ABS.

TUONO V4 R ABS:
THE BEST "NAKED" BIKE EVER

THE TOP PERFORMING, FASTEST AND SPORTIEST NAKED BIKE EVER, BASED ON THE LEGENDARY RSV4, WINNER OF FIVE SBK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES, IS NOW EVEN MORE INCISIVE, SOPHISTICATED AND SAFE. STRONGER PERFORMANCE (170 HP), FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXCEPTIONAL aPRC ELECTRONIC SYSTEM PACKAGE, ENHANCED ACTIVE SAFETY AND DECELERATING POWER, THANKS TO THE NEW CUTTING-EDGE BRAKING SYSTEM WITH MULTIMAP ABS, WHICH CAN BE DISENGAGED AS REQUIRED. THE NEW TUONO V4 R ABS IS ALSO MORE COMFORTABLE TO RIDE, MAKING IT THE BEST NAKED BIKE ON AND OFF THE ROAD.

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The 2014 version of the Tuono V4 R comes with a host of new features compared with the previous model, including the advanced ABS racing system with 3 settings, which can be disengaged if required. The bike’s maximum power and maximum torque (170 hp) are enhanced by its formidable 65° V-4 engine, further improvements to the unique APRC electronic controls package, a larger new fuel tank (18.5 litres) and a redesigned shape for greater riding sensitivity. Particularly important, for greater riding comfort on the road, the suspension has been replaced with new elements and a more comfortable padded saddle (fully adjustable for the best possible set-up to exploit fully all the Tuono’s features for maximum performance on the track). Colours available: black or white.

ABSOLUTE ELECTRONICS

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The Tuono V4 R ABS incorporates the important enhancements to the already exceptional aPRC package, which made their debut on the RSV4 Factory ABS and RSV4 R ABS. The aPRC package (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) is the patented control system package derived directly from the winning technology used in the Superbike world championship, the most complete and refined package on the market and the only one with the exclusive self-calibrating tyre circumference function and wheelie control. A standard feature on the new Tuono V4 R ABS, the aPRC integrates better still with the full multimap ride-by-wire electronic management of the powerful V4 engine. As always, the aPRC presents a specific calibration for the needs of the Tuono V4, but has been further improved and enhanced for the pursuit of maximum enjoyment on the road and top performance on the track.

The new aPRC on the Tuono V4 R ABS comprises:
aTC: Aprilia Traction Control, the 8-level traction control system that can be adjusted on the fly thanks to a practical joystick on the left handlebar, features even better performance. Now the allowed percentage of skidding differs according to speed round a bend: the system delivers a more uniform behaviour and guarantees a high level of support on bends at high speed without penalising traction coming out of slow bends;
aWC: Aprilia Wheelie Control, with 3 settings, has been recalibrated to be even more sporty in map 1, while guaranteeing high-acceleration wheelies followed by a softer return of the front wheel to the ground;
aLC: Aprilia Launch Control, for use on the track only, with 3 settings;
aQS: Aprilia Quick Shift, an electronic system for rapid gear changes without shutting the throttle and using the clutch.
Besides the second-generation aPRC, the Tuono V4 R ABS is fitted with a highly advanced ABS, the anti-lock wheel system designed to guarantee maximum safety on the road without diminishing performance on the track in any way. The ABS 9MP unit, developed in collaboration with Bosch, constitutes the leading edge of technology. Weighing in at just 2 kg, the system adopts a rear-wheel lift-up mitigation intervention strategy (RLM) to limit rear wheelying when braking hard. The ABS can be disengaged and adjusted on 3 settings via the easy-access instrument control menu.

Aprilia RSV4 R ABS

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In a nutshell, the new Aprilia RSV4 R and RSV4 Factory ABS offer the best a biker could hope for in a supersport motorcycle. The Aprilia RSV4 is the model on which the WSBK 2013 world champion bike and five-time Superbike world champion in the last four seasons is directly based, a concentrate of all the know-how possessed by the Noale engineers, the essence of the expertise accumulated in years of motor-racing success at the highest levels.

Aprilia RSV4 Factory ABS

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No bike is more competitive, more advanced, more refined and more effective than the RSV4, as proved not only by its SBK triumphs, but also by its countless victories in all the comparative tests organised by the top industry magazines, where the Aprilia RSV4, even in its original configuration, has always been the bike to beat, irrespective of the track or the rider. The latest version delivers greater power and maximum torque (184 hp) from its V-4 engine (unique in world production), an even more advanced APRC electronic systems package, a new and more effective braking system, and a new larger ergonomic fuel tank.



Attractive new graphics will be available on both versions of the RSV4 in 2014. The RSV4 R ABS is available in two colours: Nero Opaco black or Rosso Formula red. The RSV4 Factory ABS, the more sophisticated and luxurious of the pair, is available in the new shade, Total Black.

THE NEW FRONTIER IN TECHNOLOGY

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The new Aprilia RSV4 R ABS and Factory ABS are the cutting edge of modern technology, perfecting what was already top in class in the previous versions, loved by bikers and riders all over the world for their exceptional frame and chassis, and their advanced dynamic control systems. The aPRC (Aprilia Performance Ride Control) is the well-known control suite derived directly from the winning technology of the WSBK champion bike, the most complete and refined system on the market today.
On the new RSV4 R ABS and Factory ABS bikes, the aPRC has been further developed and refined to provide an even better response to the needs of bikers on the road and professional riders on the track. System behaviour is even more uniform, guaranteeing a high level of support in high-speed bends without penalising traction when coming out of slow bends.

The new aPRCa standard feature on the Aprilia RSV4 R and Factory ABS, comprises:
aTC: Aprilia Traction Control, the 8-level traction control system that can be adjusted on the fly thanks to a practical joystick on the left handlebar, features even better performance and refined operating logic;
aWC: Aprilia Wheelie Control, with three settings, has been recalibrated for
better performance in level 1;
aLC: Aprilia Launch Control, for use on the track only, with 3 settings;
aQS: Aprilia Quick Shift, an electronic system for ultra-fast gear changes without closing the throttle and using the clutch.
The new aPRC integrates better still with the full multimap ride-by-wire electronic management of the powerful V4 engine.
In addition to the second-generation aPRC, both the new RSV4 versions feature as a standard feature a highly advanced ABS system, designed and developed to guarantee not only maximum road safety but also the best performance on the track. Aprilia worked closely with Bosch to define the best regulation for the ABS 9MP unit, which represents the ultimate in refinement and technology available today. Weighing in at just 2 kg, the system can be disengaged and adjusted on 3 settings, via the easy-access instrument control menu:
Level 1: intended for the track (but also approved for street use), it acts on both wheels and guarantees maximum performance, even in the most intense braking situations at any speed, without taking away any of the pleasure and performance “outside the envelope”.
Level 2: for sport riding on the road, it acts on both wheels and is combined with an advanced tip-over prevention system (RLM - Rear Lift-up Mitigation), with progressive action based on the vehicle speed.
Level 3: for riding on low-grip surfaces, it acts on both wheels and is combined with the advanced RLM system.
Each one of the 3 ABS maps can be combined with any of the 3 engine maps (Track, Sport, Road), to allow riders to find the best possible combination to suit their experience and expertise.

In addition to the California 1400, the Mandello del Lario flagship available in the sumptuous Touring version and the dynamic Custom version, at the EICMA International Motor Show in Milan Moto Guzzi previewed the V7 MY 2014 range, flanked by the Stelvio, Norge and Griso.


THE ULTIMATE V7
Seeing them parked is like going back to the 1970s, to the dawn of the maxi-bike. An illusion created by a mixture of shapes and volumes reminiscent of their famous ancestors, from the V750 S3 reflected in the badges and side panels, to the V7 Sport present in the 22-litre metal fuel tank. Countless references echo the style in vogue in the Seventies: the cigar-shaped silencers, the instrument panels, the flat, elongated saddle, the Moto Guzzi wording on the valve covers, the mudguards, the shape of the light assemblies.
If the aesthetic details hark back to an earlier age, the on-going and balanced technological advances incorporated in these bikes offer many advantages: the Moto Guzzi V7s can easily do 100 km on four litres of unleaded petrol, they require a limited service every 10,000 km and can already be ridden at eighteen years of age. In short, they are good looking, Italian, attractive, reliable and intelligent. But what makes them irresistible, to the point that they are now an established Mandello del Lario best-seller, is their charisma: these bikes are unique, based on a style and design approach incorporating three fundamental pillars: the 90° transverse V-twin engine, the timeless double-cradle frame and the celebrated cardan shaft final drive.
The dynamic and acoustic sensations provided for the rider are just as special: the V7s are easy and fun to ride, regardless of speed, route or model. Whether it's a Stone, a Special or a Racer, all the models are tailor-made for bikers of any extraction or experience. What distinguishes them, particularly in the MY 2014 versions, is their character. The V7 Stone, now available in total black, plays up its minimalist essence and urban vocation, the V7 Special is more conformist with its "Essetre" graphics reproducing the first V750 equipped with disc brakes, while the super-refined Racer is the most hedonistic. The innovation they all share is technical in nature: a new wet flywheel replaces the previous dry alternator, slightly modifying the front of the 90° V-twin, thanks to a more compact and sleeker new cover.

MG V7 STONE: TOTAL BLACK LOOK
Eclectic, essential, the V7 Stone has been given a make-over to enhance its minimalist nature. The guiding concept was to give the most accessible of the V7s a total black look, transforming the chrome plating into black; the only exception is the engine, which retains the chromatic tones of the metal alloys and shine of the exhaust system. On the rest of the bike, from the rear-view mirrors to the shock absorbers, from the mudguards to the wheels and the side panels, black triumphs. With a look like this, you only need to change the colour of the fuel tank to transform the bike's personality: sporty in the new "Rosso Corposo" red, elegant in the satin-finish "Verde Agata"green, and metropolitan in the highly popular "Nero Ruvido" black.

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MG V7 SPECIAL: EMPHATICALLY SEVENTIES
Of all the V7s, this model is closest to the original spirit of its ancestor, starting from its graphics, called "Essetre" like the 1974 V750, the first Moto Guzzi bike with disc brakes. The V7 Special is available in two colour versions: elegant metallic silver with black bands, or black with orange bands, a faithful reproduction of the colour combination of its famous precursor. Both versions present the historic embossed logo on the tank, while the wheel rims have a black rather than chrome finish. Unlike the Stone and the Racer, the V7 Special has a guard on the fork stanchions instead of the dust gaiters of its sisters.

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MG V7 RACER: GENUINE GENTLEMAN RIDER
Produced in a limited edition as revealed by the commemorative plate on the steering yoke, the V7 Racer is now in its third edition. Immediately recognisable, it too has been given a new total black look on the side panels, mirrors, silencer support brackets and foot-rest guards. The result is a dramatic contrast with the shiny chromium-plated 22-litre fuel tank. Staying with the numbers theme, the number "7" – the number favoured by Moto Guzzi 250cc world champion Enrico Lorenzetti – can still be seen on the top fairing and tail fairing plates, but is now chromium plated instead of white. Also new is the single-seater saddle (on request a two-seater saddle and passenger foot pegs are available) covered with alcantara and imitation leather of the same colour as the leather belt customised with the Moto Guzzi logo on the top of the fuel tank. The spectacular red frame is inspired by the first V7 Sport series with a CrMo frame, the result of a special painting process enhancing its architectural purity, which has also been applied to the hubs, wheel and swingarm. Red is also the colour of the Moto Guzzi wording, which now appears on the wheels, a detail already seen on the latest California Custom.

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A motorbike, a great road, a “blind” test for four different types of Pirelli tyre (from tourist to extreme sport models). The Aprilia Tuono V4 R ABS was the vehicle chosen for the trial conducted by Stefano Cordara, a journalist with the Red-live.it website, who carried out a truly remarkable test. Cordara had set himself a series of objectives: first, to dispel the myth that says that tyres intended for the race track are also the best for a sporty riding style on the road.

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The latest-generation road tyres deliver absolute excellence, so there is no need to choose the more extreme models (nor any purpose in doing so). Cordara also wanted to identify the differences in tyre behaviour: stability, comfort, grip, which equate to enjoyment and safety. The reliability and “truthfulness” of the trial were ensured by adopting a “blind” test method, without the tester knowing which tyres were mounted on the bike in any particular test. This eliminated the possibility of discrimination and bias, and made sure Cordara’s verdict would be as “pure” and independent as possible. The tester was put to the test too: he was asked to guess which sets of tyres were mounted for each test. And he guessed all four correctly!
The test was run on an Aprilia bike, the Tuono V4 R ABS, chosen by Cordara because, as he says in his article on the Red website: “The Tuono’s excellent chassis is rigid and precise, the perfect "jig” to help you perceive even the smallest variations in the behaviour of the tyres, because it has no reactions that might mislead you. And it is the only bike (together with the RSV4) whose electronics can be perfectly regulated to suit any tyre, since it can “read” the circumference (you follow a short regulation procedure), and it also permits the same Traction Control precision (level 5 in all cases) for any tyre you decide to mount”. This is why the Aprilia Tuono was chosen for the test. Its extremely precise chassis and configurable electronics were considered the only candidates suitable for such a probing test, the only ones able to deliver such precise riding sensations that the rider would perceive even the smallest difference in tyre behaviour, which is often very similar. The test took place in Sicily, on the wonderful roads around Mount Etna, and the Tuono V4 R ABS proved it was worthy of Cordara’s trust.


By no means a foregone conclusion, the outcome of the test showed that, on the road, tyre behaviour is very similar, with no impact on the outstanding performance levels of the Tuono, because, as Cordara writes, “in the end the real limit on the road is… the road”. The test findings were interesting: the Tuono’s reactions were faster with the sports tyres (Supercorsa and Diablo Rosso Corsa), “rounder” with the Diablo Rosso II tyres and more comfortable with the Angel GT tyres. None of the tyres turned in a poor performance, suggesting that if a motorbike is used only on the road, the rider has the option of a sportier style or longer duration, without affecting riding pleasure. To see the details of the test:
www.red-live.it/pneumatici/pneumatici-moto/pirelli-e-aprilia-il-blind-test-2/.

THE CUPERTINIAN REVOLUTION. In 2006, when word spread round the world that in California, Cupertino-based Apple was developing a telephone, the response in many quarters was one of amused scepticism. Before the device was brought to market, a video appeared on the internet showing a (fictitious) user employing an "applephone" for everything, even to shave; but then unable to make a phone call. Yet the Cupertino smartphone was a success.
Since then, supply has multiplied and the smartphone is one of the best-selling objects in the world. In just a few years, it has transformed the way people relate to one another, rapidly moving beyond the concept of the cell phone. Defining a smartphone, describing its functions, is difficult, and probably pointless, since its functions depend on the individual user, not on the maker. This is the secret of the “Cupertinian revolution”: it has provided users with a powerful, versatile hardware device, designed for the specific purpose of showing off that most brilliant of ideas: the App.
Apps – applications – come in all flavours, with the result that millions and millions of purchasers are now connected 24/7. While the smartphone does of course make phone calls, this is really just to reassure its owner. The device speaks and replies to questions, and enables users to send and receive messages, navigate the internet and the roads, download electronic mail, take and share photos, access the social networks, keep up with the news, listen to music, shop, read the paper, go to the theatre, book a flight, find the weather forecast, program a video recorder, turn on the lights or heating at home, use a webcam, play games remotely. In a word, it does anything an App developer can think of.
That’s because Apps are not necessarily developed by the smartphone makers, but by anyone with the necessary expertise and inventive flair. The smartphone is a sort of market, a shop window where everyone can put out their wares. That’s not all: the smartphone with Apps is a link between the user and the net, in any form. The smartphone is also a highly sophisticated piece of hardware, with sensors, accelerometers, high-level electronics, and a high-resolution touch screen.

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THE SMARTPHONE GETS WHEELS. Since 2009, Piaggio Innovation has been looking at the integration of the smartphone with its vehicles. Over a period of eighteen months, the Group has moved from the idea to the prototype; and then to the mass production of a device that is still unique in the world: the Piaggio Multimedia Platform.
The PMP has a simple purpose, indeed, three purposes. The first, and most immediate, is to enable the “Technological Customer” to keep connected even while he or she is driving a Piaggio Group vehicle, ensuring safety but permitting sensible use of the smartphone. The second objective is to take advantage of the extraordinary technological capabilities of the smartphone to broaden the opportunities for rider and vehicle to exchange information, via the so-called “Man Machine Interface”; the PMP transforms the smartphone into a powerful on-board computer, as well as into an additional display showing data and information not available on a conventional dashboard. So, in addition to all the usual information, the PMP provides sophisticated functions such as vehicle inclination, instantaneous engine power and torque, use of wheel traction and so on. The third and probably most ambitious and interesting purpose of the PMP is to connect the vehicle to the internet: this enables the rider to browse the web, locate the nearest service stations when fuel is low, identify precisely the reason for a fault and find a repair shop. Above all, the PMP lets the vehicle exchange data with the network and vice versa.

INSIDE THE PMP. The PMP is a combination of sophisticated hardware and software: in other words, a special-duty App. The hardware consists of an electronic unit that collects all the vehicle parameters. Its versatility means it can be used on most Group vehicles, since it can read analogy signals (conveyed on normal 12 V copper wires, such as the flashing indicator lights or the fuel level, for example), as well as K line signals (“slow” digital signals, typical of electronic unit diagnostics), and signals from sophisticated CAN lines (the digital automotive standard for data transmission).
An exclusive protocol encodes all the signals for transmission to the smartphone via BlueTooth. Here they are processed by the App, which is upgraded on an on-going basis by Piaggio Innovation and can be downloaded free of charge from the special store (iTunes Store for iOS, Google Play for Android). The App, whose name, functions and graphics are specific for each Group brand and model (AMP for Aprilia, GMP for Moto Guzzi, VMP for Vespa), manages the user interface, sizing, data management and storage.

The MotoGP World Championship CRT category has just one dominator: Aleix Espargaro astride his ART-Aprilia. For the second year in a row the Italian bike and the Spanish rider have proven to be unbeatable by the competition, on several occasions even giving the much more powerful and costly MotoGP prototypes a run for their money.



This is consistent growth since the maiden season in 2012 which has led to 8 top ten finishes this season, as well as exceptional qualifiers in Germany on the Sachsenring circuit. On that occasion the ART-Espargaro duo earned a spot on the second row with the fifth best time, just over 5 tenths from pole position. Four consecutive eighth place finishes also stand out: at Mugello, in Spain, at Assen and in Germany. These are all tracks with completely different characteristics and that goes to show the level this Italian bike has reached. Overall Espargaro proved to be the fastest in the category 14 times out of the 18 races on the calendar.
The eleventh place final ranking in the rider standings is even more significant when we consider the gap, an amazing 52 points, in front of the second CRT, while the ART-Aprilia took fourth place in the Manufacturer rankings.
Romano Albesiano, Manager of Aprilia Racing where the ART is designed and developed, had this to say about the second consecutive title: “The growth of our ART on the track is a perfect demonstration of the great commitment our racing division has in a project which as difficult as it is ambitious. The RSV4 has proven to be an excellent starting place and now the goal is to continue adding technology to the ART in order to approach the performance levels of the best MotoGP bikes. This is an exceptionally demanding challenge, but Aprilia Racing has the right resources and know-how after all the victories in Superbike to carve out a significant place for itself in the top motorcycling class as well.”

The official announcement was made on 2 November: Marco Melandri will race with the Aprilia colours in the 2014 World Superbike championship. The Ravenna-born rider has signed an annual contract with an option for renewal, for a partnership with the team that won the WSBK 2013 Manufacturers World Title with the RSV4 bike. For Marco this is a “home coming”: it was on an Aprilia bike that he became 250cc World Champion in 2002, after making third place in 2001.

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Born in 1982, Marco Melandri began his career at a very early age, in mini motorbikes, winning the Italian championship in 1992 and 1994. After moving to the 125cc category, he became Italian champion in 1997, a victory that secured his entry into the World Grand Prix 125 class. Having finished third in 1998 and second in 1999, Marco changed category, moving to the powerful 2-stroke 250cc bikes with Aprilia, and starting out on a road that made him fifth-ranked rider in 2000, third in 2001 and World Champion (with 9 wins and 2 podiums in 16 races) in 2002. In the top category, MotoGP, Melandri immediately confirmed his competitive skills, to become championship runner-up in 2005. In the various World GP categories, Melandri has won 22 races and stood on the podium 62 times.
In 2011 Marco Melandri made his World Superbike debut, immediately attracting attention, to the point that he was already in the running for the championship title in his first season, eventually finishing in second place. Ranked world third in 2012, Melandri was a contender for the title once again in 2013, ending the season in fourth place. In the SBK, he has scored 13 wins and 38 podium places.
The Aprilia World Superbike track record, including its newly minted 2013 Manufacturers title, comprises five world titles (2 Riders, 3 Manufacturers) with 38 wins and an impressive 93 appearances on the podium, as well as 16 pole positions. In its short racing history, Aprilia has won 52 world titles (38 in the World GP, 5 Superbike and 9 in off-road events), making it one of the most successful names ever in motorcycle racing.



Marco Melandri: “Coming back to ride the brand that made me World Champion is – first and foremost – an extremely powerful emotion. From a human and personal viewpoint, I just have so many memories associated with Aprilia, and they are memories of race victories. Over the years, Aprilia has proved its strength on the race-track, by continuing to win races and world titles, so I know I’ll find a team always determined to win. From the technical viewpoint, I’m very keen to race with the RSV4, a bike I have fought against on the race-track many times. I’m sure the bike and I will hit it off. And for an Italian rider, you can’t get any better than riding an Italian bike for the top world title. Keep an eye on us, it will be a thrilling season everyone will find exciting.”.
Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing team manager: “Marco is a rider we know very well, he has already been part of the Aprilia family, and secured a splendid world championship title with our brand. He certainly has nothing to prove, he has shown that he can fight for the title from the very first races in what for him was a new championship. I know he’ll do a good job with our RSV4, a bike I think is particularly well suited to Marco’s riding style. Melandri’s engagement and the confirmation of Sylvain Guintoli after an excellent 2013 season reflect our commitment to the World Superbike, where we intend to keep on adding to our medals table. I also want to thank Eugene Laverty, who had a fantastic season on our RSV4, and wish him every success for the future.”.

Aprilia, Derbi and Gilera: three historic and successful names in world motorcycle racing – now all members of the Piaggio Group – with very different beginnings and very different stories. The periods and circumstances under which the three companies were established are poles apart. Industrial unrest in Lombardy was the background against which Giuseppe Gellera – later Gilera – founded his company in the early 1900s and began racing with the factory’s very first bike, testing and riding it himself. The Derbi company was formed in Catalonia in the 1920s and moved into racing only 40 years later, quickly creating the myth of the unbeatable Balas rojas (“red bullets”).

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The Veneto region, the heart of North East Italy’s economic “miracle”, was the birthplace of Aprilia, which set out on a path that would lead it – in the mid-1980s – to challenge Japanese supremacy on the race tracks and, in an astonishingly short time, become one of the most successful names in the history of international motorcycle racing. Yet – apart from their current membership of Europe’s leading motorcycle group – there is a trait common to all three of these business and sports successes. Passion. Passion may be a word debased by a thousand abuses, adulterated by exposure in countless advertisements, drained of all meaning by use in any and every circumstance. But associated with a sport like motorcycle racing, which counts speed, determination, courage and outstanding technical expertise among its core values and danger among its most intimate variants, passion regains its true value and dignity.