Aprilia became the final MotoGP factory operation to lift the lid on its 2023 programme on Friday ahead of the final premier class pre-season test in Portugal.
The Italian marque had race riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales – as well as test rider Lorenzo Savadori – on hand to unveil the ’23-specification of its RS-GP machine, a prototype it hopes will guide it to further victories this season after Espargaro finally captured Aprilia’s maiden MotoGP win in Argentina last year.
Like the majority of the ’23 field, Aprilia elected to only tweak its paint scheme for the upcoming season, with the only clearly visible change being the addition of a purple stripe running vertically up the fuel tank of the bike – a colour addition that is also reflected on the riders leathers and team wear.
Espargaro will be looking build upon the fourth position in the riders championship he achieved last year with the upgraded ’23 RS-GP, the Spaniard now heading into his seventh season with Aprilia looking to put on a sustained title charge.
Vinales meanwhile will be looking to build on the strong foundations he managed to lay in 2022 following a tough start to life at Noale, the nine-time premier class race winner scoring three rostrum results during the second half of the year en-route to 11th in the overall standings.
The combined efforts of both its riders allowed Aprilia to finish third in the teams standings, while it also scored the same position in the constructors prize ahead of the KTM, Yamaha and Honda factories.
