Really? Ducati Better Get Better!

Mick D · Nov 5, 2013

<p style="color:rgb(93,93,93);font-family:Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;<span style="color:rgb(102,102,102);font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;Aprilia will return to the MotoGP™ World Championship as a factory entrant in 2016, it has been announced by parent company Piaggio.
<p style="color:rgb(93,93,93);font-family:Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;The news came on Tuesday during the EICMA bike show in Italy.
<p style="color:rgb(93,93,93);font-family:Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;“In 2016, Aprilia will return to MotoGP™ with the goal of winning and discovering the same success we have enjoyed in World Superbikes,” commented Roberto Colaninno, CEO of Piaggio. “
<p style="color:rgb(93,93,93);font-family:Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;The Italian marque was last part of the World Championship as a factory team in 2004.

Mick D · Nov 5, 2013

And Suzuki… With all these factory teams, where's the HRC proddy racer gonna fit in?sider. So much excitement.

rezonator636 · Nov 5, 2013

Don't forget, Kenny Roberts seems to have something in the works, too. So much intrigue...

I just hope Aprilia and Suzuki can bring competitive bikes to the table.

chopperman · Nov 5, 2013

Seems to me a lot of companys use these press statements as a form of advertising exposure. Dorna, the press, the fans are all gagging for more teams in our dyeing sport. These manufactures use this for self promotion it sometimes seems. Aprillia, BMW, MV are just 3 off the top of my head to make such press releases. Then there are the talked about returns of Kawasaki, suzuki, TeamKR I will believe it when i see it and hope i'm wrong.

Dr No · Nov 5, 2013

Spot on, Chop.

Krop's take on it isn't bad either. A lot chatter over a presser that's a couple of paragraphs long? Just what Piaggio wanted.

Strikes me that Aprilia appears to have a constrained enough budget for Gigi to jump ship, yet they're going for full-spec in a couple of years?? Then again, by 2016 who knows what the rules will be, so maybe a now ancient RSV with spec tyres, spec forks and shock will be "MotoGP"

Sloth_27 · Nov 5, 2013

Dr No

3669851383689818

Spot on, Chop.

Krop's take on it isn't bad either. A lot chatter over a presser that's a couple of paragraphs long? Just what Piaggio wanted.

Strikes me that Aprilia appears to have a constrained enough budget for Gigi to jump ship, yet they're going for full-spec in a couple of years?? Then again, by 2016 who knows what the rules will be, so maybe a now ancient RSV with spec tyres, spec forks and shock will be "MotoGP"

Maybe the rules in 2016 are going to make it possible for them to just wheel a few Cubes out of the museum. Not sure if the riders will exactly be lining up to get on it but the fans will be smiling.

kiddyK · Nov 5, 2013

chopperman

3669831383684240

Seems to me a lot of companys use these press statements as a form of advertising exposure. Dorna, the press, the fans are all gagging for more teams in our dyeing sport. These manufactures use this for self promotion it sometimes seems. Aprillia, BMW, MV are just 3 off the top of my head to make such press releases. Then there are the talked about returns of Kawasaki, suzuki, TeamKR I will believe it when i see it and hope i'm wrong.

It's one way to cut costs - with a limit of 22 riders, all we need is a couple more manufacturers to get involved and there will be no need for 'privateers' - they could all be factory teams. but it might not suit some factories who underwrite their racing by selling 'satellite' bikes.

I for one would be happy to see this on the grid.

HRC

Yamaha

Ducati

Suzuki

Kawasaki (FTR)

BMW (Suter)

MV (Ferrrari?)

Aprilia (Aspar)

Triumph (PBM)

KTM (Ajo)

Room for a couple of wildcards, perhaps.

kiddyK · Nov 5, 2013

Dr No

3669851383689818

Spot on, Chop.

Krop's take on it isn't bad either. A lot chatter over a presser that's a couple of paragraphs long? Just what Piaggio wanted.

Strikes me that Aprilia appears to have a constrained enough budget for Gigi to jump ship, yet they're going for full-spec in a couple of years?? Then again, by 2016 who knows what the rules will be, so maybe a now ancient RSV with spec tyres, spec forks and shock will be "MotoGP"

They could have just made the decision - hence the reason for the press release. They aren't far off a full-spec GP racer as it is. Why does this site always have to take the line of most convoluted conspiracy over simple business practices - like directors/shareholders meetings agreeing to spend the money?

Dr No · Nov 5, 2013

It's not conspiracy stirring. It's questioning a strange press release. Aprilia aren't making much cash, so to put out a sparse release with zero info in it smacks of a PR job over any real commitment. I hope they do field a full spec bike, as I wrote before, I just wonder what "full spec" will be in 2016. The RSV engine will be pretty long in the tooth by then, so it makes me wonder whether thry have the resources and will to put out a new engine by then?

A mate is on his annual EICMA pilgrimage, as an ex-Aprilia/Guzzi seller, he's relieved that he got out. Nothing new from that crew. All Piaggio's $ come from their smaller bikes. Hence the puzzle over a new MotoGP effort... spending up big time on a falling market.

kiddyK · Nov 5, 2013

Aprilia may not be making much cash, but their parent company is swimming in it. They had post-tax revenues of 1.4B euro last year. Paid 11c a share - not bad for a share worth 2.09 in this market.

They are on target for 1.3B profit for 2013.

Dr No · Nov 5, 2013

All true. But it remains they're spending bugger all on Guzzi and Aprilia. Maybe that'll change and I hope it does.

kiddyK · Nov 5, 2013

My mistake - it wasn't a press release, it was an aside to journalist(s) made on the sidelines at the Milan fair.

J4rn0 · Nov 6, 2013

Dr No

3669851383689818

....................

Strikes me that Aprilia appears to have a constrained enough budget for Gigi to jump ship, yet they're going for full-spec in a couple of years?? Then again, by 2016 who knows what the rules will be, so maybe a now ancient RSV with spec tyres, spec forks and shock will be "MotoGP"

Exactly. I would say a properly redesigned RSV, though.

michaelm · Nov 6, 2013

Dr No

3670011383700731

It's not conspiracy stirring. It's questioning a strange press release. Aprilia aren't making much cash, so to put out a sparse release with zero info in it smacks of a PR job over any real commitment. I hope they do field a full spec bike, as I wrote before, I just wonder what "full spec" will be in 2016. The RSV engine will be pretty long in the tooth by then, so it makes me wonder whether thry have the resources and will to put out a new engine by then?

A mate is on his annual EICMA pilgrimage, as an ex-Aprilia/Guzzi seller, he's relieved that he got out. Nothing new from that crew. All Piaggio's $ come from their smaller bikes. Hence the puzzle over a new MotoGP effort... spending up big time on a falling market.

If it was on motogp.com it would perhaps be regarded as a little more definite.

They have lost their successful CRT team for next year at this stage, and their chief designer because he didn't think they were committed. If they are to continue they needed to make some such announcement, but as you imply I doubt Aprilia's involvement in racing sells many scooters for Piaggio.

.

I hope it is true, the more the merrier. If true it suggests a lower tech less expensive formula in 2016 as you and others are saying. Maybe Aprilia can make money out of selling customer bikes as they did in other classes in years gone by in such a scenario If Honda carries out their threats of leaving if the sport became too low tech.

Mick D · Nov 6, 2013

michaelm

3670301383745768

If it was on motogp.com it would perhaps be regarded as a little more definite.

Huh? The OP is linked to the motogp.com article... Am I missing humour here?

michaelm · Nov 6, 2013

Mick D

3670321383747652

Huh? The OP is linked to the motogp.com article... Am I missing humour here?

No. Sorry, I read the press release initially from a general news source and joined the thread late.

Really? Ducati Better Get Better!

Help Support MotoGP Forum:

Mick D

Mick D

rezonator636

chopperman

Dr No

SPECTRE

Sloth_27

kiddyK

kiddyK

Dr No

SPECTRE

kiddyK

Dr No

SPECTRE

kiddyK

J4rn0

michaelm

Mick D

michaelm

Similar threads

Recent Discussions

Recent Discussions