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MOTOGP 2022- INDONESIA TEST

APRILIA CONCLUDES PRESEASON TESTS AT MANDALIKA

ALEIX ESPARGARO’ AND MAVERICK VIÑALES CONSISTENT ONCE AGAIN ON THE NEW INDONESIAN CIRCUIT, AND READY FOR THE FIRST 2022 RACE IN QATAR ON 6 MARCH.

Pertamina Mandalika Circuit (Lombok, Indonesia), 13 February 2022 - New track, same feedback: on the Indonesian circuit of Mandalika, just like in Sepang, the 2022 Aprilia RS-GP once again proved to be a project with good potential.

Over the course of the three days of testing, the last tests before the official season start in Qatar, Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales put the new prototypes to the test and agreeing that the work done by Aprilia’s techs has passed with flying colours.

Image source: www.motogp.com

The track, where the second race of the season will be held, did not offer a great deal of grip for this first approach.

This is a complicated situation, but also a chance to see how the new bike reacts in less than optimum grip conditions. The good sensations perceived in Malaysia were confirmed, not only by the lap times, but especially by the good feelings both riders had in terms of overall improvements to the bike, with plenty of margin to work with and a good base to take to Qatar.

Aleix Espargaró (bike no. 41): "We can’t evaluate the worth of preseason tests so much based on times as on the confidence that we’ve done a good job. From this point of view, I think that both Aprilia and I are headed to Qatar with a good base. The new bike has demonstrated improvements in all areas.

We can and must improve, that much is certain, also because my goal is to do better than last year. It will not be at all simple because, in my opinion, this will be the most competitive and demanding MotoGP season ever."

Maverick Viñales (bike no. 12): "I'm pleased with our tests. It’s still early to define our level with certainty, but the new RS-GP proved to be fast on two extremely different tracks like Sepang and Mandalika. My feeling also improved progressively, although I still can't say it’s perfect, while Aprilia’s techs are getting better and better at meeting my needs.

I still need time in the saddle, especially on race weekends, because I feel like I still have plenty of margin to be faster. In any case, I'm feeling positive ahead of the first race in Qatar - a track where I have always been comfortable."

APRILIA MOTOGP 2022:
www.aprilia.com/en_EN/aprilia-racing/moto-gp-2022