Scott happy with good progress at Jerez test

Aprilia and the entire MotoGP circus are preparing for the winter break with the final tests of the season at Jerez de la Frontera. This is a stop only for track sessions, because the Noale racing department is already hard at work on the 2018 version of the RS-GP, the latest project on the grid in the Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing premier class which demonstrated outstanding progress in the season that has just come to an end, progressively getting closer to the top positions, both in races and in practice.

Thanks to some fair weather, the three days on the Andalusian circuit were intense ones for Aprilia. The RS-GP machines were ridden on the track by Scott Redding, the new arrival on Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, and tester Eugene Laverty who was subbing for Aleix Espargaró, dealing with fatigue to the hand he had injured in Australia.

Scott, after his first approach in Valencia, used this final test of the season to explore the possible settings that the Italian bike offers. He especially simulated the inputs that will be incorporated in the next evolution of the RS-GP in terms of geometry and weight distribution. The British rider demonstrated a good feeling, increasingly more comfortable both astride the Aprilia MotoGP and with his team.

At the end of the 3 days, Scott Redding turned 176 laps (best 1’38.778) and Eugene Laverty did 210 (best 1’39.537).

SCOTT REDDING
“We made some good progress compared to Valencia where I was conditioned by the recently concluded race weekend. I’ve begun to adapt my riding style to take advantage of the strong points of the RS-GP and the guys at Aprilia worked hard to give me a bike that is closer to my needs. There is still a lot to do. We explored extremely different setup configurations here precisely to figure out which direction to follow in 2018. I am highly motivated because I can see that Aprilia trusts my indications and wants to give me a competitive package for next season. We have the potential to do well. Now I’ll get ready over the winter break, during which I’d like to lose a few pounds as well. This bike does not require a very physical ride, so I can afford to lose some weight. Even if it won’t be easy!”